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Heat Stress in Dairy

Cattle
Dr. L. E. Chase
Dept. of Animal
Science
Cornell University
Introduction
All animals have a zone of thermo
neutral temperatures conducive to
normal function
The upper critical temperature is
where the effects of heat stress start
to appear
Heat Stress
The point at which a dairy cow (or
other animal) cannot dissipate an
adequate quantity of heat to maintain
body thermal balance or normal body
temperature
Source: NRC, 1981
Temperature Humidity
Index (THI)
Includes both temperature and
humidity in determining the point sat
which heat stress may occur

A THI > 72 is considered to indicate
heat stress in dairy cattle
Example of the
Interaction of
Temperature and
Humidity in
Determining Heat
Stress Potential in
Dairy Cattle
All of These = THI of 72
Temperature,
o
F Humidity, %
84 15
80 30
77 50
75 65
72 95
How Do Cows Respond to
Heat Stress?
Higher body temperatures
Increased respiration rates (>70/hour)
Less activity
Increased water intake
Seek shade
Look for cool areas in the barn
What Happens
Metabolically?
Energy requirements for maintenance
increase
- Increased respiration rate
-More blood flow to the skin
- Less blood flow to body core
- May increase by 20-30%
What About Dry Matter
Intake?
Dry matter intake decreases in cows
subjected to heat stress
- May drop 10-20% in commercial
herds
- Becomes variable
- May be short or long-term
How About Milk
Production?
Decreases due to:
- More energy for maintenance
- Less energy for productive
functions
- Lower dry matter intake
- Alterations in nutrient use
- Can drop 10 to > 25%

What Happens to
Reproduction?
Usually decreases in heat stress
situations
Estrus intensity and length decrease
Fertility rate decreases
Ovarian follicle growth decreases
Increase early embryonic death
May affect fetal growth

What Determines the
Severity of Heat Stress?
Actual temperature and humidity
Length of the heat stress period
Degree of cooling that occurs at night
Ventilation and air flow
Cow factors (size, milk production)
Water availability
Hair coat depth
Which Cow Will Be Affected
More by the Sun?
Heat Stress, Dry matter
Intake and Milk Production
Used the CNCPS ration model to
predict dry matter intake and milk
production
Cow = 1,400 lbs producing 80 lbs. of
milk
Varied temperature and humidity

Conditions for Each Run
Run Temp., F Humidity Night
Temp.
1 60 50 50
2 90 50 60
3 90 70 60
4 90 70 75
5 90 70 75
1 lb. of fat was added to the ration in Run 5
Maintenance Energy
Required Mcal
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
ME, Mcal
1 2 3 4 5
Run
Predicted Dry Matter
Intake, lbs.
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
DMI, lbs.
1 2 3 4 5
Run
Predicted Milk
Production, lbs.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Milk, lbs.
1 2 3 4 5
Run
ME
MP
Economic Impact of Heat
Stress
St-Pierre et. al., 2003
Estimated costs of heat stress for both
the US and each state
Included dairy cattle, beef cattle,
swine and poultry
Yearly cost = $2.4 billion dollars

Total Loss by Animal
Type, %
Dairy
Beef
Swine
Poultry
Heat Stress Loss Estimates
by State, Millions of Dollars
State Loss, Million $ Dairy, % of
Total Loss
New York 24.9 98
Pennsylvania 50.8 88
Vermont 5.4 98
Maryland 8.75 86
What Can We Do to
Minimize the Effects of Heat
Stress?
2 basic approaches -

a. Adjust the ration

b. Adjust the environment in
which the cow lives
Ration Adjustments
Need to keep the animal healthy!!!
Select higher quality forages and more
digestible feed ingredients (lower heat
production during digestion)
Consider added fat
- Concentrated energy source
- Low heat of digestion
Ration Adjustments - 2
Replace some forage with non-fiber
byproduct feeds (beet pulp, soy hulls)
Minimize excess total and rumen
degradable protein (requires energy to
excrete from the body)
Consider buffers, yeast and added
minerals
Feeding Management
Changes
Fresh, palatable high quality feed
should always be available
Uniformity of mixed and delivered
rations
Minimize feed sorting
Shift feeding times to cooler part of
the day
Water
Intake may increase by 20 to >50%
during heat stress
Clean, fresh water always available
Adequate watering devices or space
(minimum of 2-3 inches per cow)
Make sure pressure is adequate to
refill waterers
Housing and Facility
Adjustments
Minimize overcrowding
Minimize time in the holding area
Is shade available?
Can air flow be increased with fans?
Can misters or sprinklers be installed
to wet the cows skin?
What Heat Stress?
THI Thresholds for Other
Species
Beef cattle = 72 75
o
F

Swine = 72 74
o
F

Poultry = 70 78
o
F
Summary
Heat stress can decrease animal
production, reproduction and
profitability
Ration, feeding management and
housing alterations can be made to
lower the effect of heat stress
Summary - 2
The challenge is to balance investment
cost versus projected returns
In the Northeast, we have a low
number of heat stress days
New facilities being built are
incorporating housing components to
minimize the effect of heat stress
What Heat Stress?

Monsanto Monsanto

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