Heat stress alleviation for dairy cows housed in an open-sided barn by cooling fan and perforated air ducting (PAD) system

Xie Lina, Wang Chaoyuan, Ding Luyu, Gui Zhiyuan, Zhang Lu, Shi Zhengxiang, Li Baoming, Jia Chuntao

Abstract


Curtain-sided barns with circulation fans above stall are commonly used to house dairy cows in China. Many farms equipped with circulation fans are unable to provide appropriate cooling, especially for the naturally ventilated shed, which can result in decreasing feed intake and milk production. For alleviating heat stress and improving animal comfort, a system consisting of an air cooler and a 30 m perforated air duct (PAD) was integrated to evenly distribute cooling air. The air was cooled by underground water and delivered to targeted zones above stall bed. The system was evaluated in an open sided dairy barn in Tianjin, China. For the stalls equipped with PAD system, air velocity reached above 1.1 m/s at 0.5 m height plane of the stall space, and was more uniformly distributed. Compared to the stalls equipped with circulation fans, the PAD system lowered air temperature by 1.5°C, and increased relative humidity by 8.1%. On average, Temperature Humidity Index (THI) and Equivalent Temperature Index (ETI) were decreased by 0.5 and 0.6, respectively. After a 15 days’ operation of the system, rectal temperatures of the treated dairy cows were significantly lowered. The results also showed that the cows under PADs had a higher milk production. These findings suggest the PAD can be an effective cooling alternative for naturally ventilated dairy barns to alleviate heat stress.
Keywords: dairy cow, heat stress, perforated air duct, cooling fan, naturally-ventilated barn
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20171006.3135

Citation: Xie L N, Wang C Y, Ding L Y, Gui Z Y, Zhang L, Shi Z X, et al. Heat stress alleviation for dairy cows housed in an open-sided barn by cooling fan and perforated air ducting (PAD) system. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2017; 10(6): 1–10.

Keywords


dairy cow, heat stress, perforated air duct, cooling fan, naturally-ventilated barn

Full Text:

PDF

References


McDowell R E, Hooven N W, Camoens J K. Effects of climate on performance of Holsteins in first lactation. Journal of Dairy Science, 1976; 59(5): 965–971.

Collier R J, Beede D K, Thatcher W W, Israel L A, Wilcox C J. Influences of environment and its modification on dairy animal health and production. Journal of Dairy Science, 1982; 65(11): 2213–2227.

Schneider P L, Beede D K, Wilcox C J. Nycterohemeral patterns of acid-base status, mineral concentrations and digestive function of lactating cows in natural or chamber heat stress environments. Journal of Animal Science, 1988; 66(1): 112–125.

Holter J B, West J W, McGilliard M L, Pell A N. Predicting ad libitum dry matter intake and yields of Jersey cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 1996; 79(5): 912–921.

Holter J B, West J W, McGilliard M L. Predicting ad libitum dry matter intake and yield of Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 1997; 80(9): 2188–2199.

Nienaber J A, Hahn G L, Brown-Brandl T M, Eigenberg R A. Heat stress climatic conditions and the physiological responses of cattle. In: ASAE Annual Meeting, 2003. Paper No. 701P0203. St. Joseph, Mich., ASAE.

De Rensis F, Scaramuzzi R J. Heat stress and seasonal effects on reproduction in the dairy cow: a review. Theriogenology, 2003; 60(6): 1139–1151.

Moghaddam A, Karimi I, Pooyanmehr M. Effects of short-term cooling on pregnancy rate of dairy heifers under summer heat stress. Veterinary Research Communications, 2009; 33(6): 567–575.

Boni R, Perrone L L, Cecchini S. Heat stress affects reproductive performance of high producing dairy cows bred in an area of southern Apennines. Livestock Science, 2014; 160(1): 172–177.

Shanklin M D, Stewart R E. Radiation cooling of dairy cattle. Transaction of the ASAE, 1960: 3(2): 52–56.

Roman-Ponce H, Thatcher W W, Buffington D E, Wilcox C J, van Horn H H. Physiological and production responses of dairy cattle to a shade structure in a subtropical environment. Journal of Dairy Science, 1977; 60(3): 424–430.

Strickland J T, Bucklin R A, Nordstedt R A, Beede D K, Bray D R. Sprinkler and fan cooling system for dairy cows in hot, humid climates. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 1989; 5(2): 231–236.

Means S L, Bucklin R A, Nordstedt R A, Beede D K, Bray D R, Wilcox C J, et al. Water application rates for a sprinkler and fan dairy cooling system in hot, humid climates. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 1992; 8(2): 375–379.

Turner L W, Chastain J P, Hemken R W, Gates R S, Crist W L. Reducing heat stress in dairy cows through sprinkler and fan cooling. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 1992; 8(2): 251–256.

Kadzere C, Murphy M, Silanikove N, Maltz E. Heat stress in lactating dairy cows: a review. Livestock Production Science, 2002; 77(1): 59–91.

Gebremedhin K G, Lee C N, Larson J E, Davis J. Alternative cooling of dairy cows by udder wetting. Transaction of the ASABE, 2013; 56(1): 305–310.

Tucker C B, Rogers A R, Schütz K E. Effect of solar radiation on dairy cattle behavior, use of shade and body temperature in a pasture-based system. Applied Animal Behavior Science, 2008; 109(2-4): 141–154.

Worley J W, Bernard J K. Use of high volume low speed (HVLS) fans for cooling dairy cows in a freestall barn in a hot humid climate. In: ASAE Annual Meeting, 2005. Paper No. 054112. St. Joseph, Mich., ASAE.

Calegari F, Calamari L, Frazzi E. Effects of ventilation and misting on behaviour of dairy cattle in the hot season in South Italy. In: Proceedings of 5th International Dairy Housing Conference, St. Joseph, Mich., ASAE, 2003; pp. 303–311.

Avendaño-Reyes L, Alvarez-Valenzuela F D, Correa-Calderón A, Saucedo-Quintero J S, Robinson P H, Fadel J G. Effect of cooling Holstein cows during the dry period on postpartum performance under heat stress conditions. Livestock Science, 2006; 105(1): 198–206.

Khongdee S, Chaiyabutr N, Hinch G, Markvichitr K,Vajrabukka C. Effects of evaporative cooling on reproductive performance and milk production of dairy cows in hot wet conditions. International Journal of Biometeorology, 2006; 50(5): 253–257.

Arbel A, Barak M, Shklyar A. Dairy barns cooling: integrated high pressure fogging system with air ventilation and circulation systems. In: ASABE Annual Meeting, 2007. Paper No. 074123. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE.

Matarazzo S V, Perissinotto M, SilvaI J O, Moura D J, FernandesS A A. Electronic monitoring of behavioral patterns of dairy cows in a cooling freestall. In: Proceedings of 6th International Dairy Housing Conference, St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE, 2007; pp.235–238.

Yan Z , Wang C, Li B, Zhang G, Shi Z, Li H, et al. Influence of water temperature and spraying interval on cooling effect of sprinkler system in dairy barns. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2014; 30(4): 611–617.

Brouk M J, Smith J F, Harner J P. Efficiency of modified evaporative cooling in Midwest dairy freestall barns. In: Proceedings of 6th International Livestock Environment Symposium, St. Joseph, Mich. ASAE, 2001; pp. 412–418.

The Danish Agricultural Advisory Center (DAAC). Interdisciplinary report "Housing Design for Cattle-Danish Recommendations". Third edition. Copenhagen, Denmark: The Danish Agricultural Advisory Center, 2002.

Deng S, Shi Z, Li B, Zhao S, Ding T, Zheng W. CFD simulation of airflow distribution in low profile cross ventilated dairy cattle barn. Transactions of the CSAE, 2014; 30(6): 139–146. (in Chinese)

National Research Council. A guide to environmental research on animals. Washington DC, National of Academy Science, 1971.

Silva R G D, Morais D A E F, Guilhermino M M. Evaluation of thermal stress indexes for dairy cows in tropical regions. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 2007; 36(4): 1192–1198.

Baeta F C, Meador N F, Shanklin M D, Johnson H D. Equivalent temperature index at temperatures above the thermoneutral for lactating dairy cows. In: ASAE Annual Meeting, 1987.Paper No. 874015. St. Joseph, Mich., ASAE.




Copyright (c)



2023-2026 Copyright IJABE Editing and Publishing Office