April 05, 2004

By: Jackie Rosen
Website: http://www.1st-in-wellness.com

Plan Now to Cool the Effects of Heat Stress

Summer heat stress can act as a silent thief in dairy herds by stealing as much as 10 lbs. of milk per cow per day. It robs cows of their appetites and, hence, milk production.

George Kamande, Technical Services, Diamond V Mills, recommends using mechanical cooling as a first line of defense against heat stress. He also says to provide plenty of cool, fresh water and to feed during the cool of the day.

As a second line of defense, he recommends enhancing rumen performance in order to maintain high levels of feedstuff digestibility. This can be done by feeding Diamond V Yeast Culture from three weeks before heat stress on through the end of the heat stress period. Fully fermented yeast culture encourages consistent dry matter intake for consistent milk production.

Yeast culture serves as a rich nutrient source for the rumen microbes that break down or digest forages, starches and sugars, says Kamande. It increases the number of total rumen bacteria, as well as the types of bacteria that digest fibers, starches and sugars.

The healthier and more dynamic the microbial population, the more efficiently it can convert feedstuffs to nutrients for maintenance, growth, production and reproduction. The more nutrients the cow receives from its diet, the better.

Microflora actively break down the ration into nutrients that can be readily absorbed, adds Mark Kujawa, PhD,Vice President – Technical Services Worldwide, Diamond V Mills. In the process of breaking down feedstuffs, the microflora, or microbes, can produce up to 80% of the cow’s energy needs. The microbes then move with rumen contents into the cow’s abomasum [true stomach] and small intestine, where the protein from the microbes themselves, provide 50% to 80% of a cow’s daily protein needs.

Our data has shown the benefits of a 21-day adaptation period for yeast culture, Kamande explains. When heat stress occurs depends on both temperature and humidity. The heat stress chart at www.diamondv.com nicely shows this relationship.

Under normal circumstances, Kamande says two ounces of Diamond V XP Yeast Culture per cow per day will nurture rumen microflora and set the stage for higher levels of performance. However, if heat stress occurs before yeast culture is added, he recommends increasing the rate to four ounces per day for 30 days and then dropping back to the two-ounce rate.

This will provide a better dollar return than starting at the normal rate too late, he relates. A producer may also want to look at a little higher rate when feeding summer-stressed feedstuffs, for example, overly mature forages that contain an elevated level of neutral detergent fiber.

Many dairymen realize the benefits of feeding yeast culture year round. Regardless of the phase of the milk production cycle, it has proven to support dry matter intake, help maximize feed efficiency, and support overall cow performance, says Kamande. For best results, though, avoid copycat products as they lack the thorough research, technical support and manufacturing systems of industry leaders.

About The Author:

Jackie Rosen is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-wellness.com.  Obtaining and keeping good health through healthy living, natural healing, great mental health and healthy finances.