A2B-Uncattef Farming, Saturday, June 3, 1995
GLENN A. SHIRK
Keeping high producing cows
on feed, keeping them milking
well and breeding well, and key
ing them healthy and alive can be
a challenge during the hot mucky
days of summer.
High producing cows generate
a lot of body heat, and as herds
continue to become more produc
tive the impact of heat stress
becomes more costly. Some of
these costs are immediately visi
ble; others are less visible and
continue to be felt for several
months after the heat spell is over.
The cost of heat stress appears
in the form of lost production,
reduced conception rates, higher
breeding and vet bills, higher cull-
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Glenn's
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By
Glenn A. Shirk
Lancaster Extension
Dairy Agent
ing rates and perhaps higher cell
counts and lower fat tests. How
costly can this become? This will
vary greatly from farm to farm and
from year to year.
To get a handle on these costs
let’s make the following assump
tions and estimate what they could
be for a 60-cow herd averaging 6S
lbs. of milk per cow per day:
•The “heat stress” period lasts 2
months.
•Milk production per cow per
day drops 10 lbs. but is reduced by
S lbs. with good ventilation and
good management
•Milk income over feed cost is
$7 per cwt.
•12 cows (20% of the herd)
come into heat during the “heat
stress” period, and their calving
interval can be reduced 42 days (2
heat periods) with good ventila
tion and good management.
•Breeding and vet costs can be
reduced $40.00 per head for these
12 cows.
•Cows in the last 2 months of an
extended lactation average 20 lbs.
less milk than they did for the first
300-330 days in milk.
•Heat-stress culling rates can be
reduced by 3 cows (S% of the
herd) with good ventilation and
good management
•Each involuntary cull repre
sents an $BOO loss to the fanner
($l2OO replacement cost or the
sale value of a dairy cow or heifer
minus $4OO for a cull cow equals
$800).
•Fat tests can be improved 1
point with good ventilation and
improved intakes, thereby increas
ing milk prices by $0.06 per cent.
Let’s now use these figures and
itemize how much total cost might
be reduced for the herd with good
ventilation and good manage
ment;
•Reduce drop in milk
production
$1,260
(60 cows x 5 lb. per day x 60 days
x $0.07 per lb.=s 1,260.00)
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•Higher milk price due to high
er fat test
(60 cows x 65 cents per cow x 60
days x $0.06=5140.00)
•Reduced calving interval
1,186
(12 cows x 20 lb. less milk per day
x 42 days x $0.07 per
1b.=5705.60)
(12 cows x $4O savings in vet and
breeding costs=s4Bo.oo)
•Fewer involuntary culls
2,400
(3 less heat-stress culls x
$800=2,400)
•Total reduction in heat stress
losses
The figures shown above are
estimates of the reduction in heat
stress costs that might be possible
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with goo£. ventilation and good
management.
They do not represent the total
cost of heat stress, which would be
greater. As mentioned before,
these costs can vary a lot from
farm to farm and from year to
year.
140
How much these costs can be
reduced will also vary a lot
depending in part upon feeding
and herd management practices
and upon the effectiveness of the
ventilation system. Thus, it is
important to use your own figures
when making estimates for your
farm.
These figures are intended to
serve as a guide to help you esti
mate your costs and how much
you can afford to spend to provide
your cows more comfort during
the hot mucky days of summer.
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