5 Steps to Prepare Your Dairy Farm for The Summer in India

March to June months is the summer season in India with May being the hottest month (generally).  The temperature sores as high as 40–45°C along with high humidity levels.  This leads to quite a tough and challenging environment for dairy cattle in India. Well, it’s a known fact that in cattle heat stress during summer can significantly impact milk production, and their health; resulting in overall farm business profitability.

However, it is not that we cannot survive the heat stress during summer in India.  It requires calculative, thoughtful, affordable, and attentive planning for the management of dairy animals in the summer.  Below are 5 proactive steps to prepare your dairy farm for the summer in India and provide a comfortable and cool environment to mitigate the effect of heat stress on animal production within your farm. 

1. Arranging Ample Shade in Your Farm

To avoid direct sun and scorching heat, cows generally seek shade, maybe under trees or man-made shade. Plan your cattle farm or grazing areas so that they can have sufficient natural shade from trees or artificial shade structures. It will be noteworthy that strategically placed tarpaulins can also provide a lot of relief during peak sun hours in summer.

2. Enhancing Ventilation

Cross ventilation, natural ventilation, and airy areas are very important for keeping your farm cool and breezy.  Continuous ventilation helps remove excess heat and moisture from the farm area. For an effective cross-ventilation, have adequate openings on two sides (opposite to each other). If natural ventilation is not possible or if you want to have an additional ventilation system, you may plan to install exhaust fans.  Artificial ventilation with the help of fans will help to circulate air more effectively. Evaporative cooling systems which use water evaporation to create a cool and humid environment can also be installed.  However, this is a cost-intensive option.

3. Installing Sprinkler Systems

If the atmospheric temperatures in your areas are crossing 45°C then in addition to ventilation, you may want to install misting systems or water sprinklers. This can offer direct cooling and relief to your cows. Plan and place sprinklers across your farm or cattle resting and grazing areas along with timers for an automatic start. Point to note: with the installation of sprinkler systems, the installation of a wastewater drainage system is a MUST to avoid mud formation which can give rise to various diseases in your cattle.

4. Feed, Feed Supplements

The management of dairy animals in summer becomes difficult as their feed intake is affected considerably.  With lesser feed intake, the nutritional value and nutritional supplements deficiency can affect the health, well-being, and productivity of cattle significantly.  One of the major effects of heat stress on animal production is the impact on a cow’s appetite and digestive system. To avoid or minimize the effect of high temperatures during the summer season, plan and adjust your cattle’s feeding schedule. As heat stress impacts milk production, it is always advisable to include more nutrient-intense feed with higher levels of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and other supplements. The eating schedule and feed supplement inclusion can help maintain energy levels, especially without generating excessive heat during digestion.

5. Drinking Water Management

Along with nutritional feed and its thoughtful scheduling, make sure to have ease of access to fresh, cool, and clean water.  Water is essential for regulating body temperature. As we humans, increase of water intake during summer, so do the cattle.  To have an additional caution, you may add electrolytes to their water.  This will help to replenish minerals lost either through sweating or urination during summer.  Of course, do ensure to consult your local veterinarian for further guidance.

Know the Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stress

Despite the implementation of the above-mentioned steps, it is inevitable for you to be vigilant about the heat stress effects on your cattle.  For that, you may continuously look for the following signs and symptoms to avoid any health complications.

• Excessive drooling
• Increased respiration rate (panting)
• Reduced activity and lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Reduced milk production

If you observe any of these signs, take immediate action to cool down the affected animal. If required then consult a local veterinarian for further guidance.