<b>Assessing different holding pen cooling systems through environmental variables and productivity of lactating cows

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This studyaimed to assess different holding pen climatization systems for dairy cattle through environmental variables, milk production and economic indexes. Sixteen lactating cows were used, distributed in a 4 x 4 Latin square design consisting of four groups of four animals, assessed in four periods, seven days each, and in four holding pen environments: SUN-external environment (in the sun), SHA-80%-protection polypropylenemesh shading, SHA + SPR-80% polypropylene mesh shading + water sprinkling, SHA + SPR + VEN -80% polypropylene mesh shading + water sprinkling + ventilation. The animals remained for 30 minutes in their respective environments. In this period, environmental variables were collected using data loggers, and the milk produced, in kg, by each animal was subjected to the treatments. Fixed and variable costs were calculated for economic analysis. The SHA + SPR + VEN treatment presented itself as the best environment (p < 0.05), promoting an increase in the milk produced by the cows and in themonthly income, with 44 days for return on investment.Keywords: ambience, economic viability, dairy cows.Diferentes sistemas de resfriamento em sala de espera sobre variáveis ambientais e produtividade de vacas em lactação RESUMO. Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar diferentes sistemas de climatização em sala de espera para bovinos leiteiros, através das variáveis ambientais, produção de leite e índices econômicos. Foram utilizadas 16 vacas em lactação, distribuídas em um delineamento quadrado latino 4 x 4, constituído de quatro grupos de quatro animais, avaliados em quatro períodos, de sete dias cada e em quatro ambientes de sala de espera: SOL -ambiente externo (ao sol), SOM -sombreamento de malha de polipropileno 80% de proteção, SOM + ASP -sombreamento de malha de polipropileno 80% + aspersão de água, SOM + ASP + VENsombreamento de malha de polipropileno 80% + aspersão de água+ ventilação. Os animais permaneciam por 30 minutos em seus respectivos ambientes. Neste período, foram coletadas as variáveis ambientais, com o uso de data loggers, e a produção de leite, em kg, de cada animal submetido aos tratamentos. Foram calculados os custos fixos e variáveis para análise econômica. O tratamento SOM + ASP + VEN apresentou-se como o melhor ambiente (p < 0,05) promovendo aumento na produção de leite das vacas e na renda mensal, verificando-se um prazo de 44 dias para o retorno do investimento.Palavras-chave: ambiência, viabilidade econômica, vacas leiteiras.

Thermal comfort and productive responses of 7/8 holstein-gyr cows subjected to cooling system

“…allows significant reductions in these variables, promoting thermal comfort for the animals, as observed by Silva et al (2021a). Silva and Passini (2018) evaluated different cooling systems in the waiting room for crossbred cows (⅞ Holstein x ⅛ Dairy Gyr), using environmental variables, milk production, and economic indices in the summer in a tropical climate region, and observed similar results to those obtained in the present study, in which the evaporative adiabatic cooling time of 30 minutes provided the best comfort conditions for the animals.…”

“…High milk production cows succumb to heat stress before low production animals, due to higher nutritional requirements and metabolic heat production, which significantly alter the energy balance between the animal and the environment (Shu, Wang, Guo, & Bindelle, 2021;Burhans, Burhans, & Baumgard, 2022). Strategies that minimize this problem include managing the animal in the shade, using an evaporative adiabatic cooling system (EACS) and an automated cooling system (Silva & Passini, 2018;Tresoldi, Schütz, & Tucker, 2019).…”

Climate control in the feeding area for Girolando cows: Effects on environmental and production variables

“…In a study on lactating cows in a waiting corral, Silva & Passini (2018) observed that the use of EACS, in comparison to a solely shaded environment, led to an average increase in total milk production of 1.38 kg per day. Such studies, targeting different areas of the milking parlors underscore the potential for enhancing the thermal comfort of animals waiting in handling areas.…”