Spatio-Thermal Variability and Behaviour as Bio-Thermal Indicators of Heat Stress in Dairy Cows in a Compost Barn: A Case Study

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 5; p. 1197
• Main Authors: Vieira, Frederico Márcio Corrêa, Soares, Allessandro Augusto, Herbut, Piotr, Vismara, Edgar de Souza, Godyń, Dorota, Dos Santos, Aline Cristina Zambiasi, Lambertes, Tainara da Silva, Caetano, Wellington Felipe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 21-04-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Air temperature; Animal lactation; Animals; Barns; Bedding; biometeorology; Composting; Composts; crossbred cows; Dairy cattle; Environmental control; Environmental management; geostatistics; Heat; Heat stress; Heat tolerance; Humidity; Relative humidity; Sampling designs; Spatial distribution; Sustainability; Temperature; Thermal environments; Thermal stress; Variability; Ventilation; Water intake; Water intakes; Wind; Wind speed; Brazil; geostatistics; biometeorology; crossbred cows; thermal stress
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani11051197

The spatial variability and behavioural aspects of compost-bedded pack barns remain unknown in subtropical regions. In this study, we investigated whether spatial variability occurs in the thermal environment of a compost barn and how the behaviour of dairy cows with different numbers of lactations differs in this system. The spatial sampling design comprised a grid of 108 locations inside the facility. At each location, we measured air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and bed temperature at 9:00, 12:00, and 15:00. We performed 24-h behavioural observations. Regarding spatial variability, the north face showed high air temperature values, and the distribution of relative humidity varied from the north to the south face. Kriging maps revealed a high bedding temperature trend, indicating heterogeneous ventilation management. Primiparous cows visited the water trough during the hottest hours of the day, whereas multiparous cows displayed a higher probability of walking during these periods. In conclusion, we observed a heterogeneous management of ventilation through the spatial distribution of the thermal environment inside the compost-bedded pack barn, with multiparous cows exhibiting dominance over primiparous cows seeking environmental resources.