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Effects of evaporative cooling on reproductive performance and milk production of dairy cows in hot wet conditions

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Abstract

Fourteen animals of second and third lactation of Thai Friesian crossbred cows (87.5% Friesian × 12.5% Bos indicus) located at Sakol Nakhon Research and Breeding Centre, Department of Livestock Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, were divided randomly into two groups of seven each to evaluate the effects of evaporative cooling on reproductive and physiological traits under hot, humid conditions. Results indicated that installation of evaporating cooling in the open shed gave a further improvement in ameliorating heat stress in dairy cows in hot-wet environments by utilising the low humidity conditions that naturally occur during the day. The cows housed in an evaporatively cooled environment had both a rectal temperature and respiration rate (39.09°C, 61.39 breaths/min, respectively) significantly lower than that of the non-cooled cows (41.21°C; 86.87 breaths/min). The former group also had higher milk yield and more efficient reproductive performance (pregnancy rate and reduced days open) than the latter group. It is suggested that the non-evaporatively cooled cows did not gain benefit from the naturally lower heat stress during night time.

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Acknowledgements

The Royal Golden Jubilee Project and the Sakol Nakhon Breeding and Training Center, Department of Livestock Development are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    S. Khongdee, K. Markvichitr & C. Vajrabukka

  2. School of Rural Science and Agriculture, U.N.E, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    G. Hinch

  3. Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand

    N. Chaiyabutr

Authors
  1. S. Khongdee
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  2. N. Chaiyabutr
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  3. G. Hinch
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  4. K. Markvichitr
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  5. C. Vajrabukka
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Correspondence to S. Khongdee.

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Khongdee, S., Chaiyabutr, N., Hinch, G. et al. Effects of evaporative cooling on reproductive performance and milk production of dairy cows in hot wet conditions. Int J Biometeorol 50, 253–257 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-006-0030-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-006-0030-2

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