Effect of heat stress amelioration through open-ridge ventilated thatched roof housing on production and reproduction performance of crossbred Jersey cows

AbstractThe present study was conducted to assess the impacts of loose house roofing designs and materials on modulation of micro-climate of the cow shed and its influences on production and reproduction performance of lactating crossbred Jersey cows. The control group (T0) was kept in a traditional single-slope asbestos roof shed and treatment group (T1) at a specially designed open-ridge ventilated, double-slope thatch roof shed. Lactation stage, average daily milk yield, and average parity at the beginning of the experiment were kept similar between T0 and T1 cows. The specifically designed T1 shed had significantly (P <  0.05) lower temperature, humidity, and thermal humidity index as compared to the traditional shed (T0). The T1 shed was cooler and more comfortable than T0. Housing significantly (P <  0.05) influenced cardinal physiological parameters of resident cows. Body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and discomfort index were significantly (P <  0.05) higher in T0 as compared to those in T1 cows. Improved housing significantly (P <  0.01) influenced milk yield, composition, quality, and udder health of cows. Daily milk yield depending on parity, monthly milk yield, milk fat, SNF, and protein were significantly (P <  0.01) higher in T1 than those in T0 cows. The milk somatic cell count, modified California mastitis test score, electrical conductivity, and pH of milk samples of T0 cows were significantly (P <  0.0) ...
Source: Tropical Animal Health and Production - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research