I , COLUMBIA, Mo. A dairy cow ' becomes “severely stressed.” is like a “walking furnace.” And -.That was best illustrated by the unles something is done to keep her summer of 1980 when many cows’ 1 cool in warm weather, her jnilk milk production dropped over 600 production will decline several pounds during the summer, pounds in the summer. “Several dairy farms reported “A 1, 4QO-pound dairy cow, will that milk production dropped as give off about 4,000 BTU’s an hour, much as 40 percent on severe hot so dairy farmers should do what days in 1980,” Steevens said, they can to dissipate this beat by “Seimer .Dairy Farm at Cape keeping the cow cool with shade, Girardeau dropped from 9,000 fans and loggers,” said Barry pounds milk shipped to 6,000 Steevens, University of Missouri- pounds in about one week and Columbia dairy specialist. ~ came back up to 8,000 pounds when “Cows also need plenty of loggers were installed.” water—3o to SO gallons a day Studies by Leroy Hahn, formerly during warm weather.” of UMC and now agricultural Steevens said the “comfort engineer at the USOA’s research zone” for dairy cows is between 45 unit at Clay Center, Nebraska, said to 65 degrees' Fahrenheit At 80 it’s not unusual for a cow’s milk degrees and 40 to ~60 percent,. production to drop 300 pounds in a relative humidity, the dairy cow summer, even, with shade begins to be stressed, causing a provided. drop in feed consumption and milk production. At 90 degrees and 60 percent relative humidity, the dairy cow Sealcrete can paint your farm 2 buildings quickly and inexpensively... for £ tee HYDRAULIC AERIAL EQUIPMENT INSULATION R. MAX URETHANE <4xB or to your spec) FIBERGLASS ROLLS BLOWN IN ★ ★ RD2, Box 267, East Earl, PA 17519 Call us for low prices - (717)354-7561 Cool cows can make more milk Also cows don’f'settle” as well during warm weather, often requiring'four to seven services per conception. Dairy fanners find Distributor For WHEELING CHANELDRAIN ROOFING & SIDING • White • Gold • Brown SALES ueai uuUxUuii i&> ixlore difticuil, too, because cows are active during late evening and early morning hours when it gets hot. “All in all, keeping cows cool is a good investment,” said Steevens, noting that a dairy fanner could easily save $4O-$BO or more worth of milk per cow by reducing heat stress. Here are some of his suggestions: • Provide shade. “Shade trees are fine,” Steevens said, “but only when they’re fairly close to the cow’s water supply and there are enough trees so all the cows don’t clump together around one tree and lie in a mess. “Build shade if natural shade isn’t handy. Provide 35 to 45 square feet per head. Paint the top side of metal white underside black. Orient shades in a north-south direction. This provides shade during the middle of the day while allowing sunlight under the shade in early morning and late evening Contact Amos Gehman, Salesman Seal Crete, Inc. RO2, Ephrata, PA 717-859-1127 Colors In Stock: • Red • Avocado Green • Plain Galvanized • Light Green Distributor For ALUMAX ALUMINUM ROOFING & SIDING COMPLETE POLE & OTHER BUILDINGS TRUSSES to dry the area. • Provide plenty of water, but do not allow cows to wade in farm ponds. Ponds are a major source of spreading diseases such as mastitis and leptospirosis. • Keep feed close to cows. "If cows have to walk a long way for shade and some old fescue pasture, don’t expect those cows to eat much,” Steevens said. • Keep holding pens cool. Con sider installation of foggers which spray a fine mist at approximately 02JEOGS.I Light & Natuml SEPTIC TANKS Drain Fields - Filter Beds Specializing in Sewage Systems An AH Types on Lot O Dynamic Masonry Contractors GORDONVILLE Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 3,1982—D5 IVa gallon per hour at 40 psi (pounds per square inch). Provide a large fan (24- to 36-inch) for evaporative cooling. • Put a fan in the milking parlor. If building a new free stall barn, Steevens suggested good ven tilation and insulation. “Something like a 3/4 inch asphalt impregnated cellotex installed underneath the metal roof will provide a radiation barrier,” he said. MIKE FISHER & LARRY HERR 687-6801 SPECIAL FARM PR ICES FREE ESTIMATES
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers