Reducing Heat Stress In Dairy Cows

Water requirements to reduce heat stress in dairy cows is an important subject to tackle. Like most living mammals, cows don't do well when there's more heat than they can handle. It is even more pressing when they have to provide gallons of milk and healthy meat.

Cows' water intake will increase as temperature rises. There should be a nearby water source to where they are feeding or herded. It is also important that the source is close to shade as it would help with reducing the heat stress in the dairy cows. Higher producing cows are even more prone to suffer from heat stress so you may have to watch out for them more. These cows generate more heat because of their higher feed and drinking water intake.

The cows' drinking water has to be fresh and clean, and has no contaminants. With wells and other outside water sources, you should have them tested and determined to be safe for the livestock. Do not keep the cows close to the ponds in your area. Ponds have poor quality water, and can increase mastitis and higher somatic cell counts in your cows. This poses as a health risk to the cows.

It may be necessary to run a suitability test for water sources that are outside your area's water systems. The outside sources have to be tested for sodium, alkalinity, sulfates, nitrate nitrogen, electrical conductivity and hardness, for the purpose of determining if it's suitable for a drinking water source for the cows.

What is most critical when there is heat stress concerns the lactating cows and the milk production. Milk production may decrease by as much as 25 percent in times of great heat stress. This is accompanied by the dry matter intake of the lactating cattle, which also decreases when under extreme heat stress. For every one pound of matter intake lost, twice the amount of milk production is lost, it is said.

The feed manger has to shaded for added comfort for the cows while they are eating and feeding. You can also add a water sprinkler system and fans that are directed towards the cows to further reduce the heat felt int eh place. Do not spray water on the feed as dry matter intake is important. As much as possible, keep the udders of the cows dry to reduce the possibility of having mastitis. Also make sure that the floor is still good enough for the cows to walk on and prevent injuries due to slipping.

Water is really a priority when the temperature rises. We can say that management and the feeding of the cows are also part of the process in reducing heat stress in dairy cows. Some responses of the cows, though, can help reduce heat production in them, like selective consumption of feeds and cooling strategies. Still, a lot of work has to come from you. The dairy cows can only do so much and you are the one controlling their environment.

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