Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 7

“Stress, due to rise in temperature, lowers the feed intake, production and reproductive efficiency of dairy animals,” said Dr Parkash Singh Brar, director, Extension Education, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), while speaking on the importance of proper management of livestock during summer.

He added that proper livestock management was also important to lower economic losses to farmers. “Adequate housing management, water availability, alterations in timings of feeding and feed formulation can help to lower the affects of thermal stress,” he said.

“Buffaloes having fewer sweat glands and are more prone to heat stress. Depending on the availability of facilities at farm, buffaloes should be allowed to wallow in ponds or given showers or water splashes three to four times a day,” said Dr Brar.

The expert added that farmers should ensure that dairy animals were taking adequate intake of clean fresh drinking water as it helped to lower production losses to a great extent.

“Sheds should also be well ventilated, with the top of roof painted white or covered with thatch. On the boundary of the farm, shady trees should be planted to make the premises cooler,” Dr Brar said.

“At big commercial farms, number of animals must be kept according to the space available, otherwise, higher animal density would lead to more heat stress as well. Fans, water coolers and foggers are also quite helpful during extreme hot days,” he said, adding that dairy animals, especially buffaloes, show heat signs during early morning or late evening and hence, heat detection and inseminations should be done during these cool hours.