March 18 2024
Late gestation is one of the critical points of pregnancy when any positive or negative event that occurs can cause long-term effects on the fetus after birth
Nov. 9 2023
This summer was Earth’s hottest on record. For dairy cattle around the world and the farmers that take care of them, that heat made producing high-quality milk more challenging
Aug. 24 2023
The very best way to determine if your heat abatement tools are working is to ask the cows. During an Iowa State University Extension webinar, Jennifer Van Os shared signs that help evaluate the effectiveness...
Aug. 21 2023
August is always a difficult month for a dairy cow. In my experience, heat stress seems to have some cumulative risk for cows
Aug. 17 2023
The days are already getting a little shorter as we enter this late summer stretch, but for many across the United States, the temperatures are showing no hint of fall
Aug. 7 2023
Last week, Wisconsin experienced some pretty high temperatures that seem to be sticking around. I heard the phrase, “You should be used to the heat since you’re from the south,” multiple...
June 22 2023
The calendar says it is officially summer, and temperatures in many parts of the country are heating up
Aug. 8 2022
Certain signs of heat stress are relatively easy to notice by simply looking around the barn – rapid breathing or panting, cows bunching, and reduced feed intake, for instance
July 21 2022
The best time to strategize about heat stress mitigation is early spring when there is still some frost on the ground in the mornings
June 7 2021
A common misconception is that calves don’t experience heat stress. They are more tolerant of heat than other age groups of cattle but can still experience heat stress losses from in utero
June 3 2021
Uncooled dry cows have lower milk production throughout their lactation, found a University of Florida study, but that’s not all
May 27 2021
As the hot summer months continue on, it is important to revisit the topic of heat stress
Sept. 3 2020
Nearly every year we have had severe heat stress within our dry cow group. This happened for the most part because they were used to living life
Aug. 10 2020
Bunching of animals is a common problem in dairy facilities during summer months. It can be very frustrating as it is often difficult to determine what is causing cattle to bunch
July 23 2020
July has arrived in full force, and those summer temperatures have brought along heat stress. Fortunately, several strategies can help to alleviate those risks and limit their long-term effects
June 29 2020
This week is forecasted to be hot in nearly every dairy producing part of the country. Month-long predictions have much of the same with above average temperatures expected for all of July
June 22 2020
The value of water to cow comfort cannot be understated. It’s useful to remember that, in times of potential heat stress, water is not only necessary for drinking but can also help cows release excess...
June 8 2020
Heat stress is back for the summer. The most important tool to deal with rising temperatures is airflow, according to John Tyson of Penn State Extension
April 8 2020
Heat stress abatement is not a novel concept to those in dairy circles. Decades of research indicate that heat-stressed lactating dairy cows will reduce feed intake and drop milk production