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Physiological, Productive, and Economic Benefits of Shade, Spray, and Fan System Versus Shade for Holstein Cows During Summer Heat

University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia 65211

¹ Reprint requests.

ABSTRACT

During the 1984 summer, effects of spray and fan in freestall areas and feeding areas on milk yield, plasma growth hormone and prolactin, freestall utilization, and economic significance for Holstein cows were studied. Weekly milk and rectal temperatures at morning and afternoon milkings were higher for cows in shade than in shade with spray and fan cooling. Compared with rectal temperature, milk temperature measured in the clawpiece provided a more reliable indicator of heat stress than in the milk meter. Diurnal pattern of rectal temperature from 4-h measurements showed an average of 12 h in which maximal rectal temperatures of cows in shade were greater than 39°C, but cows in the shade plus spray plus fan group had rectal temperatures below 39°C all day. Plasma growth hormone was higher and prolactin lower for cows in shade plus spray and fan than cows in shade only.

Cows cooled with spray and fan under shade produced 2 kg/cow per d more than cows in shade alone. Eeconomic analysis showed a net income of 22¢/cow per day for spray plus fan under shade. Results suggest that milk temperature is a practical technique to assess heat stress in dairy cattle, and the use of spray plus fan is a profitable means to maximize cow comfort and lessen stress-induced decline in milk production.

² Department of Dairy Science.

³ Department of Statistics.

⁴ Department of Agricultural Engineering.

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