The Dairy Heat Stress Road Show (DHSRS) is planning another round of travel this fall and next spring. Its aim: bring new answers to the problem of heat stress in dairy cows.

Heat stress on dairies does not only affects cow comfort, says Dr. Todd Bilby, dairy technical services manager with Merck Animal Health, but also lowers milk production and fertility, which costs the dairy industry millions of dollars annually.

Surveys conducted of participants in the last DHSRS showed that dairy heat stress cost dairy operators more than $81 per cow, per year. Producers at a road show event also reported that by implementing the strategies they learned, their dairy operation could save more than $40 per cow, per year.

The show, financed by the USDA in collaboration with several universities, will travel to four states and Puerto Rico, Bilby says. All sessions will run from 10 a.m.- 2:45 p.m., with lunch provided.
 Dates and locations this fall include:

  • Dec. 3, County Extension Office, 458 Highway 98 North, Okeechobee, Florida
  • Dec. 5, Camuy, Puerto Rico, to be delivered in English and Spanish

Spring 2014 dates and locations:

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  • April 1, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Stephenville, Texas
  • April 2, Hilton Garden Inn, East Elwood St., Phoenix, Arizona
  • April 4, Consumer Education Pavilion, Vet Medicine Center, Tulare, California

Topics and speakers include “Nutritional Additives and Facility Modifications to Reduce Heat Stress” by Dr. Robert Collier of the University of Arizona; “Should We Cool Dry Cows?” by Dr. Geoffrey Dahl of the University of Florida (UF); and “Current and Future Opportunities to Reduce the Impact of Heat Stress” by Dr. Pete Hansen, also of the UF.

Bilby will speak on “Tools and Technologies to Assess Heat Stress on Commercial Dairies.”

Along with onsite instruction, the road show will provide the latest research technology, software tools, and proceedings in English or Spanish at each program. The road show is free and open to the public. For more, email Bilby. PD

—From Texas AgriLife Extension news release