ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2023 23 combat the impact of heat stress on cow health. • Keep water filled, fresh, and clean: On average, a cow can consume up to 30 gallons of water on a normal day. When you factor in high humidity, that number can double. Make sure to increase water availability for your herd. Cows will not be as willing to walk longer distances in warmer weather. They must have constant access to cool, clean water in a location that is shaded or close to shade. By keeping water troughs cool and clean, your cows will have a better chance of beating the heat. • Provide proper cooling: Cows have very little ability to sweat and cool themselves. Allowing access to misters, sprinklers, and fans can help. Look to see where the cows are congregating – this would be a great spot to install misters and sprinklers. To avoid water saturating the udder, don’t leave misters or sprinklers on for too long. Place your sprinklers on a timer to help avoid issues. Always remember to make sure misters are clean, and continuously provide proper airflow with fans. Air flow and constant water are critical to help your cows stay cool. • Allow access to feed frequently: It is common for feed intake to decrease during hotter months. To keep their appetites up, make sure they have constant access to fresh feed. Feeding more frequently during cooler parts of the day keeps feed fresh, flavorful, and can increase intake. A tasty tip is to incorporate a covered feed structure that offers shade for cows, so they are more comfortable while eating. By implementing heat abatement strategies, you can control the negative impacts of heat stress during the summer while working to prevent dairy cow lameness from showing up in the Fall. MANAGING LAMENESS: THE IMPACT OF HEAT STRESS ON HOOF HEALTH Heat stress is one of the biggest factors contributing to dairy cow lameness. Two of the main reasons are: • Cows that experience heat stress tend to stand more, to increase their surface area to dissipate heat. This can cause trauma on their feet, allowing lesions to appear. If you have poor heat abatement, you are going to see sore and bruised feet. • During heat stress cows will experience a decrease in energy and nutrient intake, which can lead to a reduction in hoof production and quality. Lame dairy cows may experience diet changes, weight loss, limping, increased lying down time, pain, discomfort, changes in gait, and changes in posture. If a cow is showing any of these signs, it could mean lameness is taking its toll, and the necessary steps should be taken to treat the condition. According to the University of California, loco-
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