Rise in environmental temperature puts a great stress on dairy animals. High temperature lowers the milk production of animals due to lower feed intake and more heat load on the animals.
Yashpal Singh, head of department, Livestock Production Management, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, said that due to scorching heat, proper shelter and housing management, water application, changes in feeding regime, preventive health management etc. are some of the techniques to minimise the effect of thermal stress.
“Well ventilated sheds with proper standing and resting space must be provided to dairy animals. Open end of the shed should be covered with thatched bamboo, jute, curtains. Sheet roof may also be covered with thatch or top of the roof may be painted white and dark colour under the surface. Saplings of shady trees should be planted around the sheds, especially at the southern wall/boundary for further cooling,” he said.
As water is the most essential input in summer, special care should be given to this. Water splashing, showering, sprinkling and fogging of water on animals, inside the shed 3-4 times during the hottest part of the day (11 am to 4 pm) reduces heat load and enhances productivity due to evaporative cooling. These methods are more effective in buffaloes as they have sparse sweat glands compared to cattle. Animals should be wallowed in clean water ponds during extreme hot weather.
Wallowing arrangements should be made at the farm itself as taking the animals to the pond in hot sun neutralises the beneficial effect of wallowing. On large commercial dairy farms various cooling devices like fans, wet curtains or panels, air cooler or conditioners etc. may be used during extreme hot conditions.
Provision of ample fresh, cool potable drinking water (in earthen pitchers commonly used in villages) also helps in reducing the heat load. Shaded water troughs in sufficient numbers should be provided to the animals at a convenient place.
Heat detection should be done 2-3 times when the animals are stress free and relaxing during the early or late hours of the day. Never detect heat when animals are hungry or under any type of stress.
Jaspal Singh Hundal, head of department, Animal Nutrition, advised dairy farmers to adopt optimum feeding practices during hot weather to minimise heat stress losses in dairy animals. He emphasized that as feed intake declines during summer, the energy density of the ration should be increased through supplementation of bypass/protected fat, while excess dietary protein should be avoided by maintaining a balanced rumen degradable protein.
Farmers should use highly digestible quality fodders such as maize silage, berseem hay and fresh green fodder, while limiting poor quality straw in the ration. Supplementation of yeast, sodium bicarbonate, electrolytes and adequate potassium, sodium and magnesium is also important to maintain rumen health, hydration and mineral balance.
He also recommended offering slightly moistened TMR and feeding 60-70% of the ration during evening or night hours, while ensuring adequate feeding and watering space.
Paramjit Kaur, professor-cum-head, Veterinary Parasitology, said that proper deworming and vaccination schedule must be followed for maintaining the health of animals. Infestation of the ecto-parasites increases during summer, so it should be controlled properly by using suitable acaricidal spray on animals as well as in the shed, especially in corners and crevices.
Biosecurity is the key during this time and no visitor/outsider should be allowed to enter farm premises and at the entry disinfectant should be sprayed. Proper care and management techniques during the summer season will help farmers maintain healthy animals, get more milk production and assured profit from dairy farming.
