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The Influence of Stable Temperature on the Production and Feed Requirements of Dairy Cows

Department of Dairy Husbandry, North Dakota Agricultural College

ABSTRACT

1. The idea that dairy cows receiving an adequate ration need to be kept in a warm barn to be comfortable seems to be an assumption rather than a fact.
   
2. Data presented herein show that provided dairy cows receive an adequate ration, have shelter from the wind, snow or rain and have a dry place to bed down that: (a) they can withstand exposure to cold temperature; (b) that they will produce practically the same in a cold stable as they will in a stable where the temperature is about 50° F.; (e) that milk cows on full feed, when housed in a cold stable produce sufficient surplus heat over usual maintenance requirements to maintain body temperatures without using nutrients for that purpose; (d) that cows housed in a cold shed require if anything somewhat less protein and total digestible nutrients for milk and butterfat production than other cows or the same cows when kept in a standard dairy barn; (e) that the cows in the cold shed tend to gain somewhat more body weight than the cows in the dairy barn; (f) that the comfort and convenience of the caretaker and the protection of watering systems rather than the need of the cows justify the use of stables that are common today.
   
3. It should be noted that the cows kept in the cold shed were always loose while those in the dairy barn were always kept in stanchions.