CONSULTANCY PROJECT REPORT
on
Measures to Alleviate Heat Stress inCattle and Buffaloes
Dairy Cattle Physiology DivisionNational Dairy Research Institute
Karnal(Haryana)-132001
Project Workers:Dr. Parveen Kumar, Principal ScientistDr. Sohan Vir Singh, Senior ScientistDr. R.C. Upadhyay, Principal Scientist
Submitted to:M/S Space Cool Systems Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
Published by: DirectorNational Dairy Research Institute, Karnal(Deemed University), Karnal - 132 001 (INDIA)Tel.: +91-184-2252800Fax: +91-184-2250042
Cover Designed by: Dr. Parveen KumarDr. Sohan Vir SinghDr. R.C. Upadhyay
Front Cover Photo depicts fan cum Mist Cooling System to alleviate heat stress inCattle & buffaloes.
M/s Space Cool Systems Pvt. Ltd.Off.: 252, Vardhman Market, West Enclave,Pitampura, New Delhi - 110 034Off. cum Resi: # A-7/9, Sector-16, Rohini, New Delhi - 110 089Ph.: +91-9811270233, +91-11-27856564
Printing: Intech Printers & Publishers# 353, Mughal Canal, Karnal - 132 001Contact No. : +91-184-4043541, 3292951E-mail : [email protected]
FOREWORD
India is the world’s highest milk producing country during thelast decade contributing to about 15% of the world milk production. Theincreased production of milk has improved per capita milk availabilityto 246 gm/day, however it is still short of recommended requirement of280 gm/day by ICMR. Environment plays a significant role in regulatingthe productivity of animals. In order to reduce the production lossesthere is a need to modify the micro-environmental condition aroundanimals by using certain advanced managemental techniques. In thisregard a memorandum of understanding was signed between M/s SpaceCool Systems Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi and NDRI, Karnal to undertake theresearch on effect of water dispersion on milk productivity using fancum mist system. Data presented in this report on “Measures to AlleviateHeat Stress During Summer in Cattle And Buffaloes “demonstratedthat it is possible to increase the milk yield more than 10 percent bymaintaining the lactating Karan Fries and Murrah buffaloes under fancum mist system during hot dry summer season.
The information generated from this consultancy project is aresult of arduous work of the scientists. I am confident that the findingsof the project will be of tremendous use to progressive dairy farmers tomeet the increasing demand of milk through enhanced productivity. Ihope that the findings of this report will help in reducing losses inproductivity of livestock and new insight in the field of dairyentrepreneurship.
(A.K. Srivastava)
PREFACE
The productivity of livestock undergoes seasonal changes and it has beenestablished that the productivity is affected both directly and indirectly byclimate extremes. The productivity remains unaffected relatively with in thezone of thermal comfort. In order to reduce production losses and to providecomfort to the animals there is a need to modify the environmental conditions atmicro levels. Experiments have shown that milk yield of cattle and buffaloesdecline due to rise in ambient temperature especially during hot and hot humidseasons. A proper shelter is therefore necessary for maintaining the productivityunder different agro climatic conditions. Heat alleviating measures viz. fan,coolers, foggers, mist, showers, wallowing etc.may be used for reducing thethermal stress. In this study a fan cum mist system was installed and found to bevery effective in maintaining the production level during heat stress and reducethermal stress. This system is also able to maintain the hygienic conditions inthe floor bedding and reduce water use and energy consumption.
We express our profound sense of gratitude and indebtedness to Dr.A.K.Srivastava Director, Dr. Sushil Kumar former Director, Dr. S.L. GoswamiJoint Director (Research), Dr. G.R.Patil Joint Director (Academic) & formerChairman Consultancy cell and Dr. B.S. Prakash, Head DCP NDRI Karnal fortheir esteemed and timely guidance during the course of the study. We areextremely thankful to Dr. Shiv Prasad, I/C cattle Yard for providing the logisticsupport during entire period of study. Help rendered by the staff of DCPDivision, M.E. Section is duly acknowledged. We are grateful to M/S SpaceCool Systems Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi for the installation of cooling system in thecattle yard for undertaking the experiment under memorandum of understandingsigned between NDRI and M/S Space Cool System, New Delhi. The presentreport is the compilation of the results obtained during the course of study asenvisaged under MOU. We hope that the information will be of immense use tothe progressive dairy farmers for sustaining the milk production during hotdry and hot humid condition in different parts of India using the cooling systemwith efficient blasting of air and designed with high pressure fitted withatomizers.
Dr. Parveen KumarDr. Sohan Vir SinghDr. R.C. Upadhyay
CONTENTS
Consultancy Project Report 1
Protocol for study on crossbred cows (Karan Fries) 4
Physiological Functions 4
Feed Intake 4
Milk Yield 4
Environmental Variables 4
Physiological Functions 4
Feed Intake 7
Milk Yield 8
Protocol for study on Buffaloes 9
Physiological Functions 9
Feed Intake 11
Milk Yield 12
Hormone Analysis 12
Benefit to Cost Ratio 13
Summary 13
1
CONSULTANCY PROJECT REPORT
Measures to Alleviate Heat Stress in Cattle and Buffaloes
Memorandum of understanding for contract research(Collaborative research) was signed between M/s Space CoolSystems Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi and National Dairy ResearchInstitute, Karnal (Haryana) to undertake the research on thetopic entitled “Measures to alleviate heat stress in cattle andbuffaloes” with a specific objective to see the effect of waterdispersion on milk production, feed intake and physiologicalresponses in cattle and buffaloes.
The study was conducted at Cattle Yard, NDRI, Karnal(Haryana). Karnal is located 250 m above mean sea level29.42’ North latitude and 79.54’ longitude. The averagerainfall is around 700mm. The average ambient temperatureduring the different months of the year ranges from zero tomore than 40°C. The mean monthly temperature and meanrelative humidity during different months of the year atKarnal have been graphically represented in the form ofclimograph (Fig.1).
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Temperature humidity index is negatively correlated withmilk yield in cattle and buffaloes i.e. higher is the summer stressmore is decline in milk production (Fig.2 & 2a). Under thisresearch programme M/s Space Cool Systems Pvt. Ltd. Delhihad installed fan cum mist cooling system along with thecontrolling unit (Picture 1) in the cattle Yard of NDRI, Karnal.A total number of ten fans (Picture 2) were fixed in the byre atan angular plane at a distance of about 20 feet covering about200 feet over the animals. Each fan had the provision of fixingfour atomizers (Picture 2) having diameter of 75µ for formationof mist. The blasting of air from the high-speed fan immediatelyevaporated the mist (Picture 3).
Picture1. : Controlling unit of cooling system
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In order to fulfill the specific objective, the experimentswere conducted on cattle and buffaloes as per the followingprotocol:
The study was conducted on six lactating crossbred (KaranFries) cows and six Murrah buffaloes for a period of 45 daysduring summer season. An adaptation period of 15 days wasgiven before the start of actual study. Statistical analysis wascarried out using suitable statistical models.
Picture 2. Angular fans attached with atomizers
Picture 3: Mist flow during the operation of cooling system
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PROTOCOL FOR STUDY ON CROSSBREDCOWS (KARAN FRIES)
Following parameters were recorded in control andexperimental animals during hot dry season.
PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS:· Core temperature· Respiratory frequency· Heart rate· Skin temperature· Thermal heat load
FEED INTAKE:· Dry matter intake (kg/ animal/ day)· Dry matter intake (kg/ 100 kg body weight/ day)
MILK YIELD:· Milk Yield (kg /day)
ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES:· Dry bulb temperature· Wet bulb temperature· Relative humidity· Sunshine hours· Wind velocity
PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
Six lactating cows were kept under natural conditions(control) without fan cum cooling system and another sixlactating cows (experimental) were maintained under thecooling system for a period of six hours i.e. 10.00 am to 04.00pm. Adaptation period of 15 days was given to theexperimental group before the actual start of the experiment.The average dry bulb temperature (°C) and relative humidity
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average wind velocity during the experiment ranged between4.7- 6.9 km/ hr and sunshine hours ranged between 6.9-8.9.
The core temperature (RT) increased by 0.8°C in controlcattle whereas in experimental cattle the increase was only0.1°C. The decline in core temperature was significant (p<0.01)due to the operation of fan cum cooling system for six hoursduring the peak hot hours of the day (Table 2 & Fig.3). The
(%) were 36.7±0.2 & 42.6±1.5 respectively under naturalconditions. The corresponding values in experimental groupswere 35.8±0.1 & 46.7±1.4 (Table-1). The average dry bulbtemperature decreased by 0.9° C and relative humidityincreased by 3-4 % due to fan cum mist cooling system. The
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skin temperature (ST) at rump and hump regions was 36.50±0.03 & 36.7 ± 0.01°C in control cattle. After the running of fancum mist cooling system over experimental KF Cows, ST atrump increased by 1.4 and 0.3°C respectively in control andexperimental groups of cattle (Table 2). Similarly at hump regionthe ST increased by 1.5 & 0.4°C respectively in control andexperimental cattle over the pre exposure values. The skintemperature at rump and hump regions significantly declined(p<0.05) in experimental animals as compared to controlanimals. Heat storage (KJ) declined by 56.70% (p<0.01) inexperimental group of lactating cattle (Table 3).
The respiratory frequency in control and experimentalanimals were almost similar before the start of actualexperiment during the morning hours. After the end of sixhours of operation of cooling system reduced the respiratoryfrequency (Table 2) by 7 breaths per minute compared to the
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control animals. Similarly the pulse rate also decreased in theexperimental animals however the decrease in pulse rate wasnon significant (Table 2).
FEED INTAKE:
Control and experimental lactating Karan Fries Cowswere monitored for dry matter intake (DMI) for theexperimental period. Average DMI in control cattle was10.56±0.81 kg/day( Fig. 4).
The DMI increased by 7.5 percent in experimental cattle.DMI /100 kg body weight was found to be 1.73 and 1.86 kgrespectively in control and experimental cattle. The lactatingcattle during feeding under the cooling system (Picture 4).
Picture 4: Feeding of lactating animals under fan cum mist cooling system
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Picture 5: Lactating Karan Fries Cattle
MILK YIELD:
The Milk Yield kg/day were recorded in both the controland experimental lactating cattle showing a net increase inmilk production of 1.2 kg/day (Fig. 5). In terms of percent
increase in milk production it was found to be 9.8 as a result offan cum mist cooling system, which resulted in conservationof energy in terms of milk production (Picture 5).
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PROTOCOL FOR STUDY ON BUFFALOES
PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
Six lactating buffaloes were kept under natural conditions(control) without fan cum cooling system and another sixlactating buffaloes were maintained under the cooling system(experimental) for a period of six hours i.e. 10.00 am to 04.00pm. Adaptation period of 15 days were given to theexperimental group before the actual start of the experiment.The average dry bulb temperature (°C) and relative humidity(%) were 36.7±0.2 & 42.6±1.5 respectively under naturalconditions. The corresponding values in experimental groupswere 35.8±0.1 & 46.7±1.4 (Table-1) .The average dry bulbtemperature decreased by 0.9° C and relative humidityincreased by 3-4 % due to fan cum mist cooling system. Theaverage wind velocity during the experiment ranged between4.7- 6.9 km/ hr and sunshine hours ranged between 6.9-8.9.
The core temperature (RT) increased by 0.81°C in controlbuffaloes whereas in experimental buffaloes the increase was
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only 0.4°C. The decline in core temperature was significant(p<0.05) due to the operation of fan cum cooling system for sixhours during the peak hot hours of the day (Fig. 6). The skintemperature (ST) at rump and hump regions was 36.70± 0.02& 36.6 ± 0.02°C in control buffaloes. After the running of fancum mist cooling system, ST at rump increased by 1.2 and 0.2°Crespectively in control and experimental groups of buffaloes.Similarly at hump region the ST increased by 1.2 & 0.1°Crespectively in control and experimental buffaloes. The skintemperature at rump and hump regions significantly declined(p<0.05) in experimental animals as compared to controlanimals. Heat storage (kJ) declined by 60.19% (p<0.01) inexperimental group of lactating cattle (Table 4).
Figure 7: Physiologicalresponses of lactating
buffaloes
The respiratory frequency in control and experimentalanimals were similar i.e. ranging between 22-23 breaths perminute before the experiment during the morning hours. Afterthe end of six hours of operation of cooling system reduced therespiratory frequency (Fig.7) by 11 breaths per minute compared
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to the control animals. Similarly the pulse rate also decreasedfrom 74 to 72 beats per minute in the experimental animalshowever this decrease in pulse rate was non significant (Fig. 7).
FEED INTAKE:
The control and experimental buffaloes were monitored forDry Matter Intake (DMI) during the experimental period.Average DMI in control buffaloes was 11.21±0.71 kg/day (Fig.8).
The DMI increased by 8.2 percent in experimentalbuffaloes amounting to 12.13 kg/day (Fig 8). DMI /100 kgbody weight was found to be 1.97 and 2.13 kg respectively incontrol and experimental buffaloes.
Picture 6: Buffaloes under normal conditions
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MILK YIELD:
The Milk Yield kg /day were recorded in both the controland experimental lactating buffaloes and registering a netincrease in milk production of 0.8 kg/day in experimental group(Fig.5). In terms of percent increase in milk production it wasfound to be 12.3% as a result of fan cum mist cooling system,which helped in conservation of energy in terms of milkproduction (Picture 7).
Picture 7: Lactating buffalo
HORMONE ANALYSIS
Plasma samples were analysed for hormones i.e.Thyroxine, Triidothyronine, Cortisol and Prolactin before andafter the treatment in both control and experimental group ofcattle and buffaloes. In experimental cattle, the plasma levelsof cortisol decreased significantly ( p<0.01) from 4.21±0.14 to2.38±0.09 ng/ml while in experimental buffaloes thecorresponding values were 4.35 ± 0.13 and 2.60 ± 0.08 ng/mlrespectively . The mean plasma prolactin and plasma thyroxinelevels did not change significantly in both cattle and buffaloesas compared to control.
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BENEFIT TO COST RATIO
The economics of the fan cum mist cooling system wascalculated including overhead expenses and cost of the inputs. Thebenefits to cost ratio in this experiment was found to be 1.52:1.00i.e. Rs. 516.00 per day for 100 lactating animals (Table 5).
SUMMARY
The importance of beneficial effect of angular fan cummist cooling system to alleviate heat stress was validatedthrough experiments on lactating cows and buffaloes duringsummer season. The angular fan cum mist cooling system wasfound to be effective in minimizing stress by improved feedintake and physiological responses leading to minimum changesin hormones, which resulted in increased milk production by10-12 % during hot conditions. The results of the study are ofgreat importance to farmers/ dairy industry as the angularfan cum cooling system resulted in alleviating the thermal heatload and increased milk production.
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Effects of thermal heat alleviating system consisting of fancum mist were investigated in crossbred cows and buffaloes.The investigation revealed that the cooling device reducesthermal heat load on lactating animals improves milk yield andfeed intake. The device is very useful for high producing cowsand buffaloes and changes the microenvironment tocomfortable levels. The device is able to return its investmentsin about two years. The cooling system is economic formaintaining more then fifty high producing cattle and buffaloesduring summer.
The fan cum mist cooling system was found to be efficientin reducing core temperature and restores physiologicalresponses to normal values without affecting the quality of milk.Limited recurring expenditure with increased milk productioncould sustain the cooling system economically. Further, fineflow of the mist through a very small opening (74µ) resulted indry bedding of the animals leading to hygienic conditions.Immediate evaporation of the mist by the angular fan resultedin lowering of the temprature and helping in modifying themicroclimatic conditions to comfortable levels.
The progressive farmers can use the fan cum mist systemwithout any adverse effect on physiological responses of animal.Fan cum Mist system has been found to be economical sincebenefits to cost ratio has been found to be 1.52:1.00 and alsowater use and its wastage is much less in mist system ascompared to showers. The immediate evaporation of mist bythe blasting of air leads to dry bedding of the animals shedhelping in hygienic environment. The entire cost of mist andfan can be recovered through increased milk production andimproved microenvironment of the shed. In India, use of fan iscommon in dairies while use of coolers and fan cum mist systemis uncommon.
