evaporative cooling

Reduce heat stress with soaking

Strategic decisions about timing, use of sensors, location of soakers and soaking design can decrease water usage while improving overall sustainability and cow comfort during the warmer months.

June 8, 2024

Mario Mondaca

Heat stress has been estimated to cost the dairy industry $897 million, and one of the most effective methods to alleviate heat stress is to cool the cow directly using low-pressure soaking. This article will focus on feedlane soaking but will also touch on other areas where soaking is used.

Practical heat stress management tips

Israeli dairy producers keep cows cool by ensuring each cow has enough space, utilizing a “cooling cycle,” creating a cooling shed on the farm and paying attention to where on the farm cows can become overheated.

July 27, 2023

Ofier Langer

Dairy cows are vulnerable to heat stress. As temperatures rise, so does a cow’s body temperature and respiratory rate as she pants to cool down.

Heat stress and the often-forgotten heifers

In addition to providing adequate drinking water and shade, evaporative cooling can be an effective heat abatement strategy for cows and heifers on pasture.

June 16, 2023

Carly Becker

The initial cost of implementing the appropriate heat abatement in barns and on pasture may be intimidating, but keeping all cattle, including heifers, cool can provide a good return on your investment as it makes them more comfortable, thereby making the negative effects of heat stress less severe, and setting them up for success for their future lactations.

High-pressure fogging vs. soaking

A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of high-pressure fogging and soaking based on climate, farm size and other factors.

March 21, 2023

Dan Veeneman

Choosing the right cooling system for a dairy farm will depend on various factors such as the climate in the region, the size of the farm and the cost of installation and maintenance.

Bigger body size, more milk increases cooling demands for today's cows

April 2, 2019

Bob Collier

In his fifth edition of Dairy Cattle and Milk Production published in 1939, Dr. Clarence Eckles reported that the “ratio between the human population and the number of cows in the United States had remained essentially the same since 1850.” At that time, there were 36 million dairy cows in the U.S. producing an average of 8,700 pounds of milk per lactation.

It pays to keep cows cool

April 7, 2011

Tom Bailey

Prepare now to meet the demands of heat stress. Take “the 45-day challenge.” Repair and clean fans, sprinklers and drinking troughs in existing systems.

Items Tagged with 'evaporative cooling'

ARTICLES

Reduce heat stress with soaking

Practical heat stress management tips

Heat stress and the often-forgotten heifers

High-pressure fogging vs. soaking

Bigger body size, more milk increases cooling demands for today's cows

It pays to keep cows cool

West: The value of records

South Central: Heifer development from weaning to breeding

Southeast: BCS – one of the best tools you have

FREE NEWSLETTERS

SUBSCRIBE to Leading Industry Magazines

I'm looking for ________

[Podcast] FMMO modernization: USDA’s final decision and the impact it could have on milk prices