Professional paper

MANAGEMENT OF HEAT STRESS IN DAIRY COWS

Germano Brajković ; Buzet, Trstenik 20, Hrvatska
Davor Perkić ; Kušić promet doo, Sv. I. Zelina, Hrvatska

Abstract

„Heat stress“ means the state of organism exposed to external and internal factors when homeopathic systems of the organism cannot resist their harmful influences. When speaking about defence systems against heat factors and the regulation of internal temperature in organism, domestic animals use 4 ways of regulation: radiation, conduction, convection and evaporation. In cattle regulation capacity for body cooling is very small, resulting in a series of negative consequences in production and reproduction. Besides productin and reproduction problems there are numerous health problems due to immunity drop with frequently long-term consequences even after suppressing the primary problem – efficient cooling of highly productive dairy cows. Such consequences cause great losses in production and economy. The fight against heat stress must be managed by securing the best living conditions in order to reduce the harmful effects to the minimum and preserve the animal welfare. Full attention must be paid to the housing which must be equipped with modern cooling systems. By adequate feeding of dairy cows in the time before, during and after their exposure to heat stress its consequences can be considerably reduced. This paper has been concieved as a reminder of problems caused by heat stress in dairy cows and as a guide on how to avoid or reduce its negative effects.

Keywords

heat stress; thermal comfort; cooling systems; nutrition

Hrčak ID:

39714

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/39714

Publication date:

6.5.2009.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 2.996 *