If you’re searching for easy-to-follow tips to keep your cows cool this summer, you’ve come to the right place! It’s essential to protect your herd from the heat to prevent losses and maintain productivity.

We all know that the hot weather poses a fresh set of challenges for farmers. Therefore, we’ve compiled some straightforward tips to help you navigate it.

Continue to reading for cool cows and continuing profits…

1. Ensure Access to Clean Water

Just like humans needs access to H20 during a heat wave, cows also need access to fresh water.

Too many farmers misjudge the amount of water their herd will drink during the summer season. Their water intake in fact dramatically doubles during hotter temperatures.

Now is a good time to review your drinking stations across your farm and sheds. Ensure that they are in place across your site, in shaded areas, as well as at parlour exits. This is because milking is particularly thirsty work!

2. Improve Ventilation

Ensure proper ventilation to help dissipate heat and humidity, as well as to prevent diseases spreading in a close and stuffy environment.

Whilst your building should be designed to provide the right airflow, bringing in additional fans will help reduce the effects of heat stress.

Another way to improve ventilation is to reduce the number of animals in each building if possible. This will ensure that enough air can circulate.

3. Utilise Sprayers and Misters

Coupled with good ventilation, sprayers and misters are a good way to keep farm animals cool in summer.

It is recommended to avoid cubicle areas, as this can dampen bedding and therefore create the ideal environment for bacteria!

If possible, install sprayers or misters around the collecting area, where cows are close together and are in need of a quick refresh.

4. Invest in quality sawdust bedding 

Quality sawdust bedding plays a critical role in keep your cows cool and comfortable during the summer months.

Our cubicle conditioners are a staple for farmers at any time of the year. And with their extensive benefits, it’s little wonder why they are so popular during summer.

Premium bedding such as Powderbed and Finebed provide a hygienic and comfortable bedding solution, with a unique consistency to ensure a dry and clean environment.

If you need to stock up on bedding for summer, call our team on 01978 854666 to reserve your slot today!

5. Amend milking times

For cool and content cows, amend your milking times to avoid the hottest part of the day. Milking your herd in the midday sun is risky and unnecessary!

Most farmers already have their alarms set for milking early in the morning, and again late in the afternoon/early evening. Which is an ideal milking routine for keeping cattle happy in summer!

6. Adjust feeding times 

Our next tip to keeping dairy cows cool in summer is to amend their feeding times if possible.

It is recommended that you feed them during times of days when it is not too hot. Whilst this is easier said than done when it can be hot throughout the day during the summer, cows simply won’t eat when they’re hot.

During the early morning or after sunset is the best time to feed your herd. This way, you will be maximising feed consumption and ensuring the productivity of your vows.

7. Speak to your nutritionist

Just like humans, cows can find themselves with a lesser appetite when temperatures rise.

However, it is important for productivity that your herd is taking on enough energy for the parlour. Consult with your nutrition experts to ensure your herd are getting what they need to maintain strong milk yields.

What are the signs of heat stress in dairy cattle?

Heat stress can have a significant impact on dairy cows and will impact their health, productivity and overall well-being.

Therefore, preventing heat stress in your dairy cows is essentials and our recommended tips can mitigate the effects of heat stress.

Here are some signs to watch out for:

1. Heat-stressed cows will pant excessively or breathe rapidly to try to cool down.
2. Agitation, restlessness, and reluctance to lie down.
3. Excessive drooling can occur in heat-stressed cows as a result of increased saliva production.
4. Cows may keep their mouths open to facilitate heat loss through panting.
5. Reductions in milk production typically manifest two or more days after cows first encounter heat stress.

How do you manage the summer heat on your farm? Let us know on Facebook and Instagram! If you need any support with bedding this summer, get in touch today, our team is ready to support.