Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Limit Feeding And Shade Allocation On Growing Calf Performance, Water Usage, And Animal Comfort, Z. L. Debord, Z. M. Duncan, M. G. Pflughoeft, K. J. Suhr, W. C. Ellis, W. R. Hollenbeck, S. P. Montgomery, T. J. Spore, E. C. Titgemeyer, D. A. Blasi, A. J. Tarpoff

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of limit feeding in conjunction withshade allotment on animal performance, animal comfort, and water usage during periods of heat stress.

Study Description:During the summers of 2021 and 2022, 852 heifers were assigned to one of four treatments: limit-fed high-energy ration or high-roughage ration fed forad libitumintake with or without access to shade. Growth performance and water usage were measured during a 90-day growing period. Calves were fed a gut equilibration diet for 7 days to account for gut fill.

The Bottom Line:Limit feeding a …

Effect Of Sow Feeder Type And Drip Cooling On Sow Body Weight, Litter Performance, And Feeder Cleaning Criteria, Zhong-Xing Rao, Kyle Coble, Mike D. Tokach, Jason C. Woodworth, Joel M. Derouchey, Robert D. Goodband, Jordan T. Gebhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 600 mixed parity sows (PIC, Line 3) were used to evaluate the effect of different lactation feeders and drip cooling on lactating sow farrowing performance and litter growth performance during summer conditions. For the lactation feeder evaluation, the trial was conducted in 2 sequential groups with 300 sows per group in the same facility in central Arkansas. Five rooms with 60 farrowing stalls per room were used for each group. At approximately d 110 to 112 of gestation, sows were blocked by body condition score (BCS), parity, and offspring genetics (Line 2 or Line 3 sires). Sows …

Heat Stress During The Transition Period Is Associated With Impaired Production, Reproduction, And Survival In Dairy Cows, P. R. Menta, V. S. Machado, J. M. Piñeiro, W. W. Thatcher, J. E. P. Santos, A. Vieira-Neto

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objectives of this retrospective cohort study were to determine the association of heat stress exposure during the transition period with production, health, reproduction, and survival during the first 90 days postpartum in dairy cows. A total of 5,722 Holstein cows (2,324 heifers and 3,397 cows) were categorized into environmental condition (EC) groups based on average temperature humidity index (THI) exposure as thermoneutral (TN) or heat stress (HS) during the pre (Pre) and early postpartum (Post) periods into TN-TN, TN-HS, HS-TN, and HS-HS. In heifers, exposure to HS during the Pre, Post, or Pre and Post was associated with a …

Combined Risk Factors And Digestive Disorders In Mid-Lactation Holstein Cows: A Case Study, S. T. Quanz, L. K. Mamedova, M. J. Brouk, P. Gott, B. J. Bradford

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Digestive disorders can be a significant cause of disease on dairies and are frustrating because of their unpredictability. Diets that may support excellent health in most cases may nonetheless result in significant gastrointestinal disease, even leading to deadly conditions such as hemorrhagic bowel syndrome. To our knowledge, there is limited research on these conditions, as many risk factors fail to reproduce disease when experimentally administered to cows, leading many to conclude that these disorders are generally multifactorial in nature and difficult to replicate. In this case study, we document the outbreak and resolution of digestive disorders among 15 control cows …

The Effects Of An Evaporative Cooling System On Reducing Heat Load In Lactating Dairy Cows, J. R. Johnson, M. J. Wolf, J. Mcbride, Michael Brouk

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of 2 cooling systems on barn temperature, core body temperature (CBT), respiration rate, rear udder temperature, and lying time in lactating Holstein dairy cows. Twenty lactating Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: CONV, where cows were housed in a conventional, open-sidewall freestall barn equipped with feedline soakers and fans located over the feedline and stalls; and TUNNEL, where cows were housed in a tunnel-ventilated freestall barn utilizing an evaporative cooling system. TUNNEL was effective at reducing barn temperature humidity index (THI) compared to CONV, but failed …

Case Study: Improving Heat Abatement Strategies For Lactating Dairy Cows In Southwest Kansas, L. Mendonca, A. Scanavez

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Temperature loggers attached to intravaginal devices can be used to assess severity of heat stress in dairy cows. Vaginal temperature data collected using this method can be used to evaluate effectiveness of heat abatement systems. The goal for this study was to use vaginal temperature information to evaluate the impact of implementing new heat abatement strategies in order to minimize heat stress in lactating dairy cows. Vaginal temperature of cows from 2 dairies located in southwest Kansas were assessed during summers of 2014 and 2017. Dairy A improved the heat abatement systems in 2017, while Dairy B did not. Historical …

Association Between Reproduction And Postpartum Cow Health During Summer Months In Dairies Located In The Great Plains Region, L. Mendonca, A. Scanavez

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Postpartum cow health has an impact on fertility of dairy cows, and impaired fertility in dairy herds ultimately influences profitability of dairy farms. During summer months, postpartum cow health and reproductive performance are affected in dairies located in the Great Plains region. The goal for this study was to evaluate farm-level associations between reproductive efficiency and postpartum cow health in dairy herds located in the Great Plains region. Data from June to August of 2010 to 2016 from 18 herds located in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas were extracted. Overall pregnancy per AI was used as the measure of …

Evaluation Of Weather Information From On-Farm And Meteorological Stations To Assess Heat Stress In Dairy Cows In Southwest Kansas, A. Scanavez, L. Rocha, B. E. Voelz, L. Hulbert, L. Mendonca

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Heat stress represents a challenge for the dairy industry. In order for producers to implement appropriate management practices, it is crucial for researchers to assess the extent of heat stress to which cows are exposed during the summer. Temperaturehumidity index (THI) may be used to determine the severity of heat stress that cows are exposed to during the summer. The objective of this study was to evaluate climate conditions by calculating THI using information from: 1) an official meteorological station, 2) loggers at the pen-level, and 3) loggers at the cow-level from a commercial dairy located in southwest Kansas. Temperature-humidity …

Use Of Evaporative Cooling Systems And Their Effects On Core Body Temperature And Lying Times In Lactating Dairy Cattle, Jared R. Johnson, Michael Brouk, L. Mendonca, J. P. Harner

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A study was performed to assess the effect of an evaporative cooling system on respiration rates, rear udder temperature (T_u), core body temperature (CBT), and resting time in lactating dairy cows. Cows were divided into two treatment groups and rotated between two facilities. Cows were either housed in a bedded pack barn (PACK) equipped with an evaporative cooling system (Cyclone fans, Chippewa Falls, WI) or a tie-stall barn (TIE) equipped with cooling cells. Cows housed in PACK had two cooling treatments: FAN (Cyclone fans only, no fog); and FANFOG (Cyclone fans and fog on). Groups of cows rotated …