Heat stress: when hot weather cuts feed intake and milk
Heat stress develops when high air temperature and humidity make livestock too hot. Animals eat less, grow more slowly and produce less milk. Shade, clean water and feeding during cooler hours help reduce the effects. The problem is most common in summer and in barns with poor ventilation.
What can you do during hot weather?
For example, during hot weather, a farm shifts feeding to the cooler morning and evening hours and checks that water troughs stay full. Over the following days, it notes uneaten feed and milk yield to see how the herd responds.
How can HerdMobile help?
Use HerdMobile to note uneaten feed and track milk yield each day. Comparing the two helps you spot changes during hot weather and adjust feeding promptly.
Questions from the farm
Which signs of heat stress appear first?
More uneaten feed and falling milk yield are often the first signs of heat stress. Check both each day to spot changes early, before they become a bigger problem for your herd.
Is heat stress only a summer problem?
Heat stress is most common in summer, but humid weather and poorly ventilated housing can cause problems in other seasons too. Check how much animals eat as well as the weather.
How HerdMobile helps
Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.
Daily notes on uneaten feed alongside milk yields help you spot changes in appetite during hot weather and adjust the feeding plan promptly.
