Today's top dairy herd managers increasingly employ a two-step program to maintain cow comfort and milk production during periods of heat stress.
Heat stress occurs as summer temperatures and the humidity level rise.
As heat stress increases, milk production decreases. Heat stress' toll can be both immediate and long-term, according to Mark Kujawa, Technical Services, Diamond V Mills. In addition, cows may lose body condition and not breed back as well, may reabsorb the fertilized egg, or may calve prematurely. With advance planning, a two-step program can maintain greater cow comfort and higher production levels. An ample supply of fresh water should be made available to cows 24-hours a day.