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The effect of heat (35 degrees C) and dehydration under heat (30 h) on plasma levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and aldosterone was studied on four nonpregnant dry Holstein cows. Heat exposure caused a rapid significant rise in plasma ADH without significant changes in hematocrit (Hct), small but significant increase in urine output and a significant reduction in total plasma protein. Dehydration under heat caused a sharp increase in ADH levels associated with a significant decrease in urine output and a significant increase in plasma protein, blood Hct, and serum osmolality. A significant reduction in plasma aldosterone level was observed after 24 h of heat exposure. This was associated with a slight rise in urinary sodium excretion and a significant reduction in serum sodium. Both serum and urinary potassium concentrations were significantly lower under heat. Dehydration resulted in a slow rise in aldosterone but did not reach thermoneutral level. This is probably due to the inhibitory effect of higher serum sodium observed during dehydration on plasma aldosterone secretion. The rise in ADH and decrease in aldosterone during heat exposure may explain why cattle are one of the few species that do not concentrate urine during heat exposure.

During summer 1982, responses of lactating Holstein and Guernsey cows were measured by milk temperature recorded by a Digital Dataloger with thermocouples attached to Boumatic flow meters. Maximum air temperature and temperature-humidity index averaged 30.8 degrees C and 75.6 for July. Breed did not affect milk temperature, but within-breed milk temperature increased with production. In a second study, benefits of spray cooling were evaluated with 24 Holsteins in midlactation assigned randomly to two groups of 12 and maintained under loose-housing conditions. Spray nozzles were installed in the walkways and under the manger shade for the spray treatment group. Maximum temperature and temperature-humidity index during the spray study were 27 degrees C and 73.9. Rectal temperature taken following milking averaged less for treatment than control (38.8 versus 39.1 degrees C). Milk temperature was similar (37.8 versus 38.1 degrees C). Daily milk yield was .70 kg higher than controls. Milk temperature may provide reliable indication of climate stress similar to rectal temperature, and spray cooling improves cow comfort and lessens summer decline of milk production.

Recent data on various environmental stressors and blood hormone patterns are presented for lactating cattle. Known stressor effects of such factors as environmental temperature, air pollution, and noise on the plasma thyroxine, growth hormone, cortisol, prolactin, progesterone, luteinzing hormone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine of lactating cattle are discussed. Information on stressor effects is lacking on glucagon, insulin, vasopressin, calcitonin, oxytocin, thyrotrophic hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, melatonin, parathyroid hormone, and estrogens in the lactating cow. The importance of evaluating both the effect of environmental stressor and of production or lactation intensity is emphasized in the overall interpretation of changes in hormone of plasma. The short and long term environmental heat effects on thyroxine, cortisol, and growth hormone are clear with initial increased due to acute stressors and a decline of amounts in plasma after prolonged exposure to stressors. The relationship of amounts in plasma of these hormones to milk production appears to be related directly for cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin with an inverse relationship with thyroxine. Epinephrine and norepinephrine seem to be elevated with prolonged environmental heat stress. However, the influence of intensity of lactation has not been measured. Hormones in plasma as they relate to stressor effects and milk production are important as potential indicators of the physiological state of a cow and reflect the physiological compensations a cow undergoes at various lactation intensities and/or stress exposure.

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