Ensuring animal welfare, comfort and health is crucial for successful milk production in dairy herds. The microclimate in the barn (temperature, humidity and air flow) has a significant influence on the well-being and health of dairy cows, their dry matter intake, milk yield, milk quality and milk content as well as fertility. Especially in the summer months with high temperatures and increased humidity, cows are exposed to heat stress, which leads to reduced feed intake, lower milk yield, poorer milk content, a higher somatic cell count and significantly lower fertility. Due to the poorer milk quality and lower milk content, farmers receive less income for the same amount of milk, which can significantly reduce farm income. In addition, the reproduction can be impaired during this time, especially in the case of high-yielding cows. Farmers are therefore looking for solutions to mitigate the negative effects of heat stress. These include installing fans and sprinklers in the barns to further cool the air and the animals, providing high quality and fresh feed during the cooler times of the day. The most important action is to ensure a sufficient access to clean drinking water.
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