Cooling cows is a simple-sounding idea that is hard to do well. The cost and attention to detail it requires can be great, but its financial rewards are even greater.
An intriguing new approach – literally – to cow cooling was debuted earlier this month at World Ag Expo in Tulare, Calif., by GEA Farm Technologies. Instead of using fans or misters to cool cows from above, it does the job from below, using sand bedding in freestalls.
The idea is to circulate cool water in a "radiator" of small plastic tubes buried 10 to 12 inches below the surface, as seen in the photo above. A sturdy plastic mesh is buried about halfway down to prevent cows from scooping out holes.
Coolness from the water is transferred into the sand, which then draws heat out of the much warmer cows. This natural thermal exchange reduces cows' core body temperature, which improves comfort and encourages more feed intake. During winter, the process helps warm the sand and cows.
Careful installation and bed grooming are a must, but it's an ingenious idea that should have positive effects on milk production, somatic cell count, cow health, reproduction and culling rate. The biggest advantage, however, is it uses no electricity except for the small pump needed to circulate water.
