Nutritional Management and Feeding Strategies for Lactating Dairy Cows Under Heat Stress

Excellent Article with very practical conclusions. "The most effective feeding management strategy to minimize production losses during heat stress periods is to provide a cool, comfortable environment by shading, sprinkling and/or forced air flow." There is one more comfort element that is often overlooked. It is essential and perhaps easier to provide than all the others - humidity reduction! Unlike humans, Cows accomplish most of their temperature control by condensation of hot humid air out of their lungs. That is why cows pant when it is hot. The cows lung has a skin surface the size of a football field. Much more skin than covers her body. She needs dry air to expire heat from her lungs. We assist her by condensing water out of the air onto the wet floor of a modern flushed barn. If you are interested, to view such a facility search for "Oak Lane 8 Row" and please feel free to contact me to discuss how this can be done in any climate.
Best regards, Wm F. Tooley, Platte SD USA