Dairy cows are more vulnerable to heat stress as summer draws near. Cows can only tolerate temperatures between -4 and 21 degrees Celsius (25 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit), if the weather exceeds this range, the cows start to become overheated.
The primary means of self-cooling for cows is panting, although this is an ineffective strategy. It is more difficult for panting cooling to occur in highly humid circumstances.
Dairy production in cows under heat stress drops by roughly one gallon each day. Heat-stressed cows also lose some of their fertility. Any size dairy farm could be severely impacted financially by these problems.
Cooling down with the sprinkler
Installing a sprinkler system in the barn can help to improve the living conditions for both staff and animals by reducing heat during the hot summer months.
A sprinkler system installed in the barn allows for a controlled environment, less stress caused by heat, and better animal health.
The water droplets from thesprinklers not only cool the surrounding air but also provide humidity, which can lessen the amount of dust in the air and enhance its overall quality.
Improve the water and feed
Another important aspect of a dairy farming system that requires careful management is the feeding and watering of the animals. In conclusion, the health and milk yield of the cows can be positively impacted by managing the nutritional value of their food by suitable dietary intake adjustments.
This involves providing the cow with the appropriate amounts of grains, grass, vitamins, and minerals in accordance with each cow’s health status and lactation stage.
As the quality of the milk produced is determined by the water intake, it is important to consistently strive for high-quality water.
Providing Shelter
In a dairy farm, shelter is essential due to the summer heat and to improve the comfort of the cows, which in turn maximizes productivity.
By controlling the animals’ body temperature, temporary or permanent shelters such as barns, shelters, tree planting, or shadows help to reduce heat stress in the animals.
This helps avoid heat-related illnesses and improves the well-being and milk production of the cows. A wonderful shed feature is a shaded space where the cows may peacefully rest and graze without feeling overheated.
The farmer can raise the productivity of the animals, produce more milk, and boost the dairy farm’s profits by using high-quality shading.
