Download Keep Cows Eating Through Stress

Keep Cattle Fly-Free
By: Amanda Koehler
Keep Cows Eating Through Heat Stress
By: Amanda Koehler
As we approach another summer, it is time to refresh what we know about feeding
cows under heat stress.
Feed intake is reduced during heat stress. However, instead of mobilizing body
reserves to compensate like an early lactation cow would, heat-stressed cows limit
the mobilization of fat. With less energy from mobilized fat available, total energy
availability is reduced. This leaves glucose, a primary driver of milk production, to be
used for more maintenance processes, so less is left for milk production and
reproduction. Knowing this, we can try to formulate a strategy to minimize milk loss
and lost reproductive performance. Remember our first and best choice is to minimize
heat stress by cooling the cows.
The biggest thing we can do is try to maintain feed intake. This means keeping the
cow cool and managing the feed as well as we can. Good management of the bunk,
feed storage, and multiple feedings/day are all good techniques. After that, try to
keep the ration energy as high as is practical and healthy.
Water is the number one ingredient in the cow’s diet, and often overlooked when
considering the ration. Water availability and quality are extremely important for
animal health and productivity, especially during times of heat stress. The
recommendation for trough length is 2 inches per cow and at least one watering
device for every 15 to 20 cows. Waterers should be located at milking parlor exit and
within 50 feet of the feed bunk or at every crossover in freestall barns. Allow for good
cow traffic around water troughs and it may be necessary to add additional troughs
during the summer months.
Dissolved minerals in the water can affect the ration by providing excess minerals as
well as binding supplemental minerals in the feed. Water testing is available through
numerous public and private laboratories. The five properties most often considered
in assessing water quality for both humans and livestock are odor and taste, pH, total
dissolved solids, total dissolved oxygen and hardness, heavy metals, toxic minerals,
excess minerals or compounds (nitrates, sodium sulfates and iron) and bacteria and
algae.
The warm temperatures will be here soon, so remember the keys – keep the cows cool
to avoid / minimize heat stress. If you have heat stress, maximize feed intake, keep
the energy up, provide enough water trough space, and get your water tested to best
manage your ration.