Shelter mgmt of livestock vital during summer: GADVASU

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 17

“Rise in environmental temperature puts a great stress on dairy animals. High temperature lowers the milk production of animals due to lower feed intake and added heat load on the animals,” said Dr Harish Kumar Verma, Director, Extension Education, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana.

He said: “Proper shelter and housing management, water application, changes in feeding regime, preventive health management etc. are some of the techniques to minimise the effect of thermal stress. Well-ventilated sheds with proper standing and resting space must be provided to dairy animals. Open end of the shed should be covered with thatched bamboo, jute curtains. Sheet roof may be also covered with thatch or top of the roof may be painted with white and under surface with dark colour.”

“Shady trees should be planted around the sheds, especially at the southern wall/boundary for further cooling. As water is the most essential input in summer, special care should be given to this. Water splashing, showering, sprinkling and fogging of water on animals, inside the shed 3-4 times during the hottest part of the day (11.00 am to 4.00 pm), again reduces heat load and enhances productivity due to evaporative cooling. These methods are more effective in buffaloes as they are having sparse sweat glands compared to cattle. Animals should be wallowed in clean water ponds during the extreme hot weather (between 11 am to 4 pm). Wallowing arrangement should be made at the farm itself as taking the animals to the pond in hot sun neutralises beneficial effect of wallowing,” he added.

“On large commercial dairy farms various cooling devices viz; fans, wet curtain or panels, air cooler or conditioners may be used during extreme hot condition. Provision of ample fresh, cooled potable drinking water (in earthen pitchers commonly used in villages) also helps in reducing the heat load. Shaded water troughs in sufficient numbers should be provided to the animals at a convenient place. Heat detection should be done 2-3 times during the early or late hours of the day, when the animals are stress-free and relaxing. Never detect heat when animals are hungry, or under any type of stress,” he further added.

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