Use of physiological parameters to predict milk yield and feed intake in heat-stressed dairy cows

Spiers, Donald E.; Spain, J.N.; Sampson, J.; Rhoads, Robert P.

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2004.08.051

Cited by 180 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Our studies, conducted in climatic chambers, showed a heat-induced decrease in milk yield of 35% in mid-lactating dairy cows (Nardone et al, 1992;Spiers et al, 2004;Rhoads et al, 2009), and 14% in early lactating dairy cows (Lacetera et al, 1996). Milk yield for Holstein cows declined by 0.88 kg per THI unit increase for the 2-day lag of mean THI .…”

Section: Reproductionmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…The heritability of rectal temperature is not well known, but appears to be medium to low (from 0.16 to 0.64; reviewed in Nardone, 1998). Genetic and phenotypic correlations between rectal temperature and productive (Johnson, 1987;Nardone et al, 1992;Spiers et al, 2004) and reproductive traits (Turner, 1982) have been reported. Selection for heat tolerance within a breed may be an opportunity for improving animal performance in hot climates.…”

Section: Selecting Heat Tolerancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Metabolic and hormonal acclimation to heat stress in domesticated ruminants

Bernabucci

Lacetera

Baumgard

et al. 2010

Animal

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713

492

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Environmentally induced periods of heat stress decrease productivity with devastating economic consequences to global animal agriculture. Heat stress can be defined as a physiological condition when the core body temperature of a given species exceeds its range specified for normal activity, which results from a total heat load (internal production and environment) exceeding the capacity for heat dissipation and this prompts physiological and behavioral responses to reduce the strain. The ability of ruminants to regulate body temperature is species-and breed-dependent. Dairy breeds are typically more sensitive to heat stress than meat breeds, and higher-producing animals are more susceptible to heat stress because they generate more metabolic heat. During heat stress, ruminants, like other homeothermic animals, increase avenues of heat loss and reduce heat production in an attempt to maintain euthermia. The immediate responses to heat load are increased respiration rates, decreased feed intake and increased water intake. Acclimatization is a process by which animals adapt to environmental conditions and engage behavioral, hormonal and metabolic changes that are characteristics of either acclimatory homeostasis or homeorhetic mechanisms used by the animals to survive in a new 'physiological state'. For example, alterations in the hormonal profile are mainly characterized by a decline and increase in anabolic and catabolic hormones, respectively. The response to heat load and the heat-induced change in homeorhetic modifiers alters post-absorptive energy, lipid and protein metabolism, impairs liver function, causes oxidative stress, jeopardizes the immune response and decreases reproductive performance. These physiological modifications alter nutrient partitioning and may prevent heat-stressed lactating cows from recruiting glucose-sparing mechanisms (despite the reduced nutrient intake). This might explain, in large part, why decreased feed intake only accounts for a minor portion of the reduced milk yield from environmentally induced hyperthermic cows. How these metabolic changes are initiated and regulated is not known. It also remains unclear how these changes differ between short-term v. long-term heat acclimation to impact animal productivity and well-being. A better understanding of the adaptations enlisted by ruminants during heat stress is necessary to enhance the likelihood of developing strategies to simultaneously improve heat tolerance and increase productivity.Keywords: ruminants, heat stress, metabolism, acclimation, adaptation ImplicationsHeat stress is a significant financial burden to animal agriculture in most areas of the world. Acclimation to heat stress imposes behavioral, physiological and metabolic adjustments to reduce the strain and enhances the likelihood of surviving the stress, and it also frequently reduces ruminant performance and compromises health. Improving our knowledge of physiological and metabolic mechanisms of acclimation may contribute to the development and adoption of proce...

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Section: Reproductionmentioning

confidence: 56%

Section: Selecting Heat Tolerancementioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic and hormonal acclimation to heat stress in domesticated ruminants

Bernabucci

Lacetera

Baumgard

et al. 2010

Animal

Self Cite

713

492

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“…As an example, West et al (2003) reported that under hot conditions, milk yield was more affected by THI recorded 2 days before the sampling day. Other authors (Spiers et al, 2004) reported an increase in respiration rate and rectal temperature 1 day after exposure to heat stress conditions and a reduction in dry matter intake and milk yield 2 to 4 days after heat exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Seasonal variations in the composition of Holstein cow’s milk and temperature–humidity index relationship

Bertocchi

Vitali

Lacetera

et al. 2014

Animal

119

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A retrospective study on seasonal variations in the characteristics of cow's milk and temperature-humidity index (THI) relationship was conducted on bulk milk data collected from 2003 to 2009. The THI relationship study was carried out on 508 613 bulk milk data items recorded in 3328 dairy farms form the Lombardy region, Italy. Temperature and relative humidity data from 40 weather stations were used to calculate THI. Milk characteristics data referred to somatic cell count (SCC), total bacterial count (TBC), fat percentage (FA%) and protein percentage (PR%). Annual, seasonal and monthly variations in milk composition were evaluated on 656 064 data items recorded in 3727 dairy farms. The model highlighted a significant association between the year, season and month, and the parameters analysed (SCC, TBC, FA%, PR%). The summer season emerged as the most critical season. Of the summer months, July presented the most critical conditions for TBC, FA% and PR%, (52 054 ± 183 655, 3.73% ± 0.35% and 3.30% ± 0.15%, respectively), and August presented higher values of SCC (369 503 ± 228 377). Each milk record was linked to THI data calculated at the nearest weather station. The analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between THI and SCC and TBC, and indicated a significant change in the slope at 57.3 and 72.8 maximum THI, respectively. The model demonstrated a negative correlation between THI and FA% and PR% and provided breakpoints in the pattern at 50.2 and 65.2 maximum THI, respectively. The results of this study indicate the presence of critical climatic thresholds for bulk tank milk composition in dairy cows. Such indications could facilitate the adoption of heat management strategies, which may ensure the health and production of dairy cows and limit related economic losses.

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“…Rectal temperature is an important indicator of thermal balance and might be used to evaluate the impact of heat stress [15] . Rectal temperatures of Control normal levels at midnight time (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spraying Effects on Goat Welfare in Hot and Humid Climate

Darcan¹,

Cedden²,

Güney³

2007

American J. of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

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Abstract:Heat stress is one of the major factors adversely affecting animal welfare and thus economic benefits of farms. This study was designed to determine the effects of three different spraying methods on goats for reducing heat stress. Thirty goats divided into three groups for the trial (One time sprayed a day: OTS, Two times sprayed a day TTS and Non-sprayed: Control). Respiration and pulse rates, rectal and surface temperatures (from head and udder skin) were taken three times a day (08.00-09.00, 16.00-17.00 and 12.00-01.00) on hot summer days in July-2005 under Mediterranean conditions. Some behavioural aspects such as eating, ruminating, drinking, walking and resting, daily feed and water consumption were regularly measured. The results showed that rectal temperatures (p≤0.005), pulse (p≤0.054) and respiration rates (p≤0.049), udder (p≤0.041) and head temperatures (p≤0.033) in three groups were significantly different. Depending on rising air temperature, rectal, head and udder temperatures and respiration and pulse rates increased during daytime and retired to normal level at night time. TTS goats were superior to the others regarding above-mentioned physiological data. TTS goats spent more time than OTS and Control goats while eating (p≤0.02), ruminating (p≤0.04) and walking (p≤0.01) but less time while drinking (p≤0.01) and resting (p≤0.01). Significant changes between three groups were ascertained regarding feed and water consumptions. TTS goats consumed more concentrate feed (p≤0.042) and alfalfa hay (p = 0.032) than other two groups, whereas Control groups consumed more water (p≤0.012) than the others. Ultimately, the spraying has positive effects on yearling goats for alleviating heat stress and improve animal welfare.

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Use of physiological parameters to predict milk yield and feed intake in heat-stressed dairy cows

Cited by 180 publications

References 9 publications

Metabolic and hormonal acclimation to heat stress in domesticated ruminants

Metabolic and hormonal acclimation to heat stress in domesticated ruminants

Seasonal variations in the composition of Holstein cow’s milk and temperature–humidity index relationship

Spraying Effects on Goat Welfare in Hot and Humid Climate

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