Impact of evaporative pads and cross ventilation on core body temperature and resting time of lactating cows

A trial was conducted to determine the impact of evaporative cooling pads on core body temperature (CBT), time spent lying, and number of lying bouts of Holstein cows housed in cross-ventilated freestall facilities. Despite cool ambient conditions during the trial, cows without evaporative pads tended to have elevated CBT above 102°F for 2.3 more hours per day and elevated CBT above 102.5°F for 0.95 more hours per day than cows with evaporative pads. These trends were evident even though the stocking density of the freestalls was greater in the facility with evaporative pads than in the facility without pads (123 vs. 113%). Lying times and lying bouts did not differ between treatments. Results of this study indicate that CBT tended to be reduced when evaporative pads were used, even under relatively mild ambient conditions.; Dairy Day, 2009, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2009; Dairy Research, 2009 is known as Dairy Day, 200

Ability of low profile cross-ventilated freestall barns to improve environmental conditions for dairy cattle

Recently, there has been interest in constructing mechanical ventilation with evaporative pads to improve the environmental conditions for cows during periods of heat stress. Low profile cross-ventilated freestalls with evaporative pads (LPCV) have become a popular system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how well these LPCV systems improve the temperature-humidity index (THI) under different ambient conditions. As ambient humidity increases, ability of the LPCV to reduce THI is decreased. Producers wishing to construct LPCV barns should carefully evaluate the climate in which they want to construct LPCV structures.; Dairy Day, 2007, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2007; Dairy Research, 2007 is known as Dairy Day, 200

Influence of freestall building orientation on comfort of lactating dairy cattle during summer heat stress

A trial was conducted during the summer of 2000 to evaluate the effect of freestall building orientation ”east-west vs. northsouth ” on respiration rates of lactating dairy cows, temperature-humidity index (THI) in the barns, barn temperature, and barn humidity. Differences between ambient and barn temperature and THI were higher in east-west vs. north-south orientated barns. Respiration rates were higher in north-south than in east-west orientated structures. The magnitude of differences between barn and ambient temperatures and THI did not fully explain differences in respiration rates between north-south and east-west orientated barns. Other factors such as solar radiation, airflow, and animal stress may have contributed to the differences in respiration rates.; Dairy Day, 2001, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2001

Keeping cows cool

Heat stress occurs when a dairy cow’s internal heat load is greater than her capacity to lose unwanted heat to the environment. Effects of heat stress include: increased respiration rate, increased water intake, increased sweating, decreased dry matter intake, slower rate of feed passage, decreased blood flow to internal organs, decreased milk production, and poor reproductive performance. Lower milk production and reproductive performance cause economic losses to dairy producers. The ordered priorities for reducing heat are: increasing water availability; providing shade in the housing areas (both dry and lactating cows) and holding pen; reducing walking distance to the parlor; reducing time in the holding pen; improving holding pen ventilation and freestall ventilation; adding cooling for the holding pen and exit lane; cooling close-up cows (3 wk before calving); cooling housing for fresh and earlylactation cows; and cooling housing for midand late-lactation cows

Fan placement and heat stress abatement in four-row freestall barns

Smith et al. Fan Placement and Heat Stress Abatement in Four-row Freestall Barns. Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University, November 2001

Use of Evaporative Cooling Systems and Their Effects on Core Body Temperature and Lying Times in Lactating Dairy Cattle

A study was performed to assess the effect of an evaporative cooling system on respiration rates, rear udder temperature (Tu), core body temperature (CBT), and resting time in lactating dairy cows. Cows were divided into two treatment groups and rotated between two facilities. Cows were either housed in a bedded pack barn (PACK) equipped with an evaporative cooling system (Cyclone fans, Chippewa Falls, WI) or a tie-stall barn (TIE) equipped with cooling cells. Cows housed in PACK had two cooling treatments: FAN (Cyclone fans only, no fog); and FANFOG (Cyclone fans and fog on). Groups of cows rotated between TIE and PACK every 8 hours, and effects of housing as well as cooling treatment within PACK were analyzed. During FANFOG, PACK cows had a reduction (P \u3c 0.05) in respiration rate (breaths per minute) in comparison to TIE (69 vs 76 ± 2.4 BPM). Breaths per minute also increased significantly throughout the day for TIE but this was not the case for PACK. No differences were found in Tu between treatments. While exposed to the FANFOG environment, cows spent decreased time above 102.2°F CBT when compared to FAN. Cows housed in PACK during FAN and FANFOG also spent fewer hours/ day above 102.2°F CBT vs TIE. Cows housed in TIE showed numerically greater total daily lying times during FAN and FANFOG compared to cows housed in PACK, although these results were not significant. These results confirm that evaporative cooling systems (Cyclone fans and fog) are effective at decreasing respiration rates and CBT, while having no effect on Tu and lying times in lactating dairy cows

Special needs facilities: recommendations for housing for pregnant, lactating and sick cows.

Smith et al., Special Needs Facilities: Recommendations for housing for pregnant, lactating and sick cows. Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University, July 2001

Opportunities with low profile cross ventilated freestall facilities

Low profile cross ventilated freestall buildings are one option for dairy cattle housing. These facilities allow producers to control the cows\u27 environment during all seasons of the year. As a result, an environment similar to the thermoneutral zone of a dairy cow is maintained during both summer and winter, resulting in more stable core body temperatures. Low profile cross ventilated facilities allow buildings to be placed closer to the parlor, thus reducing the time cows are away from feed and water. Other advantages include a smaller overall site footprint than naturally ventilated facilities and less critical orientation because naturally ventilated facilities should be orientated east to west to keep cows in the shade. Other benefits of controlling the cows\u27 environment include increased milk production and income over feed cost, improved feed efficiency and reproductive performance, reduced lameness and fly control costs, and the ability to control lighting.; Dairy Day, 2008, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2008; Dairy Research, 2008 is known as Dairy Day, 200

Estimating optimal operation time of korral kools on dairy cows in a desert environment

Developing management strategies for Korral Kools will help producers provide cooling in the housing area while minimizing the operational cost of the Korral Kools system. Two experiments were conducted at a dairy in Saudi Arabia to evaluate operational time of Korral Kools for multiparous and primiparous dairy cows. For multiparous cows, running time per day of Korral Kools should be continuous, but for primiparous cows, no difference in performance was detected between 21 and 24 hours. However, producers need to be careful when reducing daily operation time of Korral Kools for primiparous cows because elevated core body temperatures were observed in both treatments.; Dairy Day, 2008, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2008; Dairy Research, 2008 is known as Dairy Day, 200

Drinking water requirements for lactating dairy cows

A study to determine the amount and location of water consumption in dairy freestall barns located in northeastern Kansas was conducted during the summer of 2000. Three farms, two Holstein farms with either 2-row or 4-row freestall barns and one Jersey farm with 4-row freestall buildings, were used. Summer water usage averaged 30 to 40 gallons per Holstein cow/day and 20 to 40 gallons/cow/day for Jersey cows depending on age and stage of lactation. The farms with Holstein cows had a water usage ratio of 4 to 4.5 lb of water per lb of milk produced and Jersey cows required 3.1 lb of water per lb of milk production. However, at the Holstein dairies, only about 85% of this water was consumed and the other 15% was utilized to refill the tanks after tipping twice daily to clean cross-overs and water troughs. In addition, 35 to 45% of the water consumed is from a water station in the center crossover of each pen. Cattle also drank the least amount of water from the trough located in the crossover furthest from the pen entrance. When given access to a water trough on the milking parlor exit, cattle consumed 10% (3.5 gallons/cow/day) of the daily water intake at this location. Water usage for drinking increased as milk production increased. Adequate water system capacity and water rights are needed to make allowances for future increases in milk production. Water consumption was greater at the center alleys. Therefore, engineers should consider additional space and/or water troughs at these watering stations.; Dairy Day, 2001, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2001