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Comparison of the impact of six heat-load management strategies on thermal responses and milk production of feed-pad and pasture fed dairy cows in a subtropical environment

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Abstract

Exposure to hot environments affects milk yield (MY) and milk composition of pasture and feed-pad fed dairy cows in subtropical regions. This study was undertaken during summer to compare MY and physiology of cows exposed to six heat-load management treatments. Seventy-eight Holstein-Friesian cows were blocked by season of calving, parity, milk yield, BW, and milk protein (%) and milk fat (%) measured in 2 weeks prior to the start of the study. Within blocks, cows were randomly allocated to one of the following treatments: open-sided iron roofed day pen adjacent to dairy (CID) + sprinklers (SP); CID only; non-shaded pen adjacent to dairy + SP (NSD + SP); open-sided shade cloth roofed day pen adjacent to dairy (SCD); NSD + sprinkler (sprinkler on for 45 min at 1100 h if mean respiration rate >80 breaths per minute (NSD + WSP)); open-sided shade cloth roofed structure over feed bunk in paddock + 1 km walk to and from the dairy (SCP + WLK). Sprinklers for CID + SP and NSD + SP cycled 2 min on, 12 min off when ambient temperature >26°C. The highest milk yields were in the CID + SP and CID treatments (23.9 L cow−1 day−1), intermediate for NSD + SP, SCD and SCP + WLK (22.4 L cow−1 day−1), and lowest for NSD + WSP (21.3 L cow−1 day−1) (P < 0.05). The highest (P < 0.05) feed intakes occurred in the CID + SP and CID treatments while intake was lowest (P < 0.05) for NSD + WSP and SCP + WLK. Weather data were collected on site at 10-min intervals, and from these, THI was calculated. Nonlinear regression modelling of MY × THI and heat-load management treatment demonstrated that cows in CID + SP showed no decline in MY out to a THI break point value of 83.2, whereas the pooled MY of the other treatments declined when THI >80.7. A combination of iron roof shade plus water sprinkling throughout the day provided the most effective control of heat load.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of Nikki Casey, Warren Orr, Annette Matschoss, and Peter Martin and staff at Health and Food Sciences Precinct Coopers Plains, Brisbane, Australia, for chemical analysis of feed and pasture samples. This research was supported by the Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation (Queensland), Dairy Australia, and The University of Queensland, Australia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Meat and Livestock Australia, Sydney, Australia

    T. M. Davison

  2. Scottish Centre for Production Animal Health and Food Safety, Glasgow, UK

    N. N. Jonsson

  3. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    D. G. Mayer & W. K. Ehrlich

  4. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia

    J. B. Gaughan

  5. School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia

    M. R. McGowan

Authors
  1. T. M. Davison
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  2. N. N. Jonsson
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  3. D. G. Mayer
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  4. J. B. Gaughan
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  5. W. K. Ehrlich
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  6. M. R. McGowan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. B. Gaughan.

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The Animal Ethics Committee of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Queensland) approved this experiment.

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Davison, T.M., Jonsson, N.N., Mayer, D.G. et al. Comparison of the impact of six heat-load management strategies on thermal responses and milk production of feed-pad and pasture fed dairy cows in a subtropical environment. Int J Biometeorol 60, 1961–1968 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1183-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1183-2

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