Livestock owners are trialling the idea of bringing herds indoors to the shade to protect milk production and animals’ welfare
growing number of UK farmers are considering adapting their farms to protect animals against heat stress, and among the new measures is the idea of indoor “siestas” for cows that may normally be grazing outdoors in summer., especially modern dairy cows, which can produce 10-15% less milk in hotter temperatures. It can also effect their fertility and increase the chances of early pregnancy losses.
While sheep are shorn of their wool and beef cattle are not as metabolically active, dairy cows, particularly higher-yielding breeds, are less adapted to heat stress. Pigs and poultry are mostly housed indoors, although the UK does have a large outdoor pig herd. Chamberlain is working with farmers who are trialling the practice of bringing their cows indoors during the daytime. He says that cows start to suffer once the temperature goes above 20C.
Bailey says that buildings can offer a cooler environment for cows and can also be improved with proper ventilation, fans and sprinklers. Other options for protecting against heat stress include: once-a-day milking to reduce the stress of walking to and from the milking parlour; movable sheds to take out into fields to livestock in times of heat stress; and making the most of shade from trees.
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