Measurement of heat stress conditions at cow level and comparison to climate conditions at stationary locations inside a dairy barn

2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura K Schüller ◽  
Wolfgang Heuwieser

The objectives of this study were to examine heat stress conditions at cow level and to investigate the relationship to the climate conditions at 5 different stationary locations inside a dairy barn. In addition, we compared the climate conditions at cow level between primiparous and multiparous cows for a period of 1 week after regrouping. The temperature-humidity index (THI) differed significantly between all stationary loggers. The lowest THI was measured at the window logger in the experimental stall and the highest THI was measured at the central logger in the experimental stall. The THI at the mobile cow loggers was 2·33 THI points higher than at the stationary loggers. Furthermore, the mean daily THI was higher at the mobile cow loggers than at the stationary loggers on all experimental days. The THI in the experimental pen was 0·44 THI points lower when the experimental cow group was located inside the milking parlour. The THI measured at the mobile cow loggers was 1·63 THI points higher when the experimental cow group was located inside the milking parlour. However, there was no significant difference for all climate variables between primiparous and multiparous cows. These results indicate, there is a wide range of climate conditions inside a dairy barn and especially areas with a great distance to a fresh air supply have an increased risk for the occurrence of heat stress conditions. Furthermore, the heat stress conditions are even higher at cow level and cows not only influence their climatic environment, but also generate microclimates within different locations inside the barn. Therefore climate conditions should be obtained at cow level to evaluate the heat stress conditions that dairy cows are actually exposed to.

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 37-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Alam ◽  
MA Hashem ◽  
MM Rahman ◽  
MM Hossain ◽  
MR Haque ◽  
...  

The research was conducted to study the effect of heat stress on behavior, some physiological and blood parameters with nine goats of almost similar in age, sex and weight into three groups. Three groups were divided as zero hour (T0), four hours (T4) and eight hours (T8) heat exposure. Temperature–humidity index (THI) value was calculated as 28.17 which indicate the experimental animals were in extreme severe heat stress. Skin and rectal temperature had no significant differences among the treatment groups but respiration/panting and pulse rate were increased with the increased of heat stress from T0 to T8 group (P<0.01).  Significant difference was found in standing time and lying time (P<0.01) in experimental groups. There were significant changes (P<0.01) in number of urination and defecation per hour but no significant changes was found in duration per urination in heat treated groups. The amount of RBC, PCV%, Hb%, WBC were increased with the increased of heat stress (P<0.01). Neutrophil, eosinophil, lymphocyte and monocyte numbers increased significantly (P<0.01) in heat treated groups.  It can be concluded that heat stress had significant changes on some behavioral, physiological and blood parameters of goat.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v22i1-2.16465 Progress. Agric. 22(1 & 2): 37 - 45, 2011  


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rozita Kabiri ◽  
Ali Hatami ◽  
Hakimeh Oloumi ◽  
Mehdi Naghizadeh ◽  
Fatemeh Nasibi ◽  
...  

Abstract Melatonin, as an indoleamine molecule, regulates a wide range of physiological functions during the growth, morphogenesis and response of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this research, the effect of exogenous application of melatonin (0 (distilled water), 50, 100 and 150 µM) to the leaves of Moldavian balm plants grown under different levels of drought stress (100% (control), 80%, 60% and 40% of field water capacity) was investigated. The results indicate that plants which were treated with 100 µM melatonin showed the greatest leaf surface area, lateral branching, flower length and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase). Foliar application of 100 µM melatonin had no significant difference in catalase activity in comparison with the control and other concentrations of melatonin under normal, moderate and severe drought stress conditions. The lowest H2O2 content and lipid peroxidation (electrolyte leakage, concentrations of malondialdehyde and other aldehydes) were obtained at the concentration of 100 µM melatonin under severe drought stress. This concentration also significantly increased the chlorophyll content and enhanced the relative water content; however, foliar application of 100 µM melatonin had no significant effect on leaf length and proline content compared with the control under normal and stress conditions. The obtained results suggested that foliar application of 100 µM melatonin was more effective than the concentrations of 50 and 150 µM melatonin in reducing the adverse effects of moderate and severe drought stress.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley E. Kates ◽  
Mark Dalman ◽  
James C. Torner ◽  
Tara C. Smith

AbstractBackgroundStaphylococcus aureusis a frequent cause of both infections globally. Colonization with the organism is known to increase the risk of developing infections and occurs in roughly one third of the general population. While many factors influence colonization, it has been demonstrated other members of the microbiome influence colonization withS. aureus. Here, we assessed the nasal and oropharyngeal microbiomes of healthy participants in relation toS. aureuscolonization in a cross-sectional study using 16s rRNA sequencing of the v1-v3 region. As livestock workers have also been shown to be at an increased risk of carriage, we have also assessed microbiota differences in colonization status in a population of livestock workers.ResultsIn both the nares and oropharynx, there were no microbiota differentially abundant between colonized and non-colonized persons. However, there was a significant difference in the beta diversity (Bray-Curtis distances) between carriers and non-carriers (P=0.002). When considering carriage stratified by livestock exposure, there were a number of differences. Most notably, colonized livestock workers had significantly morePorphyomonas(2-fold change = -8.54,P= 0.03) than the non-colonized livestock workers.ConclusionsS. aureusis a frequent colonizer of the human upper respiratory tract, including the nares and oropharynx and causes a wide range of infections. Livestock workers are at increased risk for carriage. Interventions such as improving oral hygiene may lead to decreasedS. aureuscarriage by reducing other bacterial species such asPorphyomonas. Larger, longitudinal studies are needed to better explore what microorganisms may be associated withS. aureuscolonization.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 200 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. M. Dalanezi ◽  
F. C. Destro ◽  
R. A. Ferrazza ◽  
H. D. Mogollon García ◽  
F. F. Franchi ◽  
...  

There are several intrafollicular agents that have the ability to interfere with the metabolism and development of the oocyte, among these we highlight the exosomes (EXO). Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of EXO extracted from the follicular fluid of cows kept under thermoneutral or heat stress conditions to modulate oocyte maturation in vitro. Twenty-four Holstein cows were subjected to the following treatments for 14 days: heat stress (HS; n = 12), 38°C, 60% RH, temperature-humidity index = 88; and thermo-neutral (TN; n = 12), 24°C, 60% RH, temperature-humidity index = 71. Cows had their follicles aspirated when their diameter reached 9 to 12 mm; all follicles with this diameter were aspirated. All follicular fluid aspirated from cows subjected to HS or TN was pooled forming the groups (HS and TN). The EXO were obtained by ultracentrifugation of follicular fluid (120,000 × g for 70 min at 4°C, twice) and had their presence confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Bos indicus cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) collected from ovaries obtained in commercial slaughterhouse, were pooled in groups of 20 COC and randomly subjected to 1 of the following treatments: Control, matured in standard medium (TCM 199, supplemented with Earle’s salts, glutamine, NaHCO3, pyruvate, FSH, and amikacin); HS-EXO, matured in standard medium added with 10 µL of a solution of follicular EXO from HS cows; and TN-EXO, matured in standard medium added with 10 µL of a solution of follicular EXO from TN cows. The procedures were repeated 4 times, always with 20 COC per treatment in each replica. After 22 h of maturation, COC were recovered and the expression of genes related to apoptosis protection (BCL2), cell viability (STAT3), cell maintenance (RPL15), oocyte competence (BMP15), oxidative stress (CPT1B), cumulus cell expansion (HAS2), cell cycle (CDCA8), and heat stress protection (HSF1) were assessed. Oocyte genes were differentially expressed according to the source of EXO. Groups were statistically analysed using ANOVA and Tukey tests. All genes, except CPT1B, showed lower expression in TN-EXO oocytes when compared with control and HS-EXO (P < 0.05). CPT1B showed a higher expression in HS-EXO oocytes (P < 0.05). The results showed that the addition of EXO from exogenous follicles can modulate the expression of oocytes genes related to cell viability and survival. The lower expression of these genes in TN-EXO suggested that the EXO obtained in TN conditions attenuate several genes related to the oocytes maturation and viability. Surprisingly, the control oocytes showed a similar gene expression pattern of the HS-EXO. In conclusion, EXO derived from follicular fluid of cows submitted to TN or HS conditions can modulate the gene expression of oocytes matured in vitro. These results open new perspectives for the use of theses EXO as a tool to increase the efficiency of in vitro oocyte maturation. Financial support from FAPESP #12/18297–7.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-58
Author(s):  
Taha AL-Sharqi ◽  
Majid Abdullah

This study aimed to investigate the effect of wool shearing and the environmental factors represented by some hot months of the year (July August and September) on some production characteristics in Turkish Awassi ewes. 18 ewes, aged 3-5 years, with an average weight of about 55±1.43 kg, were used. The ewes divided into three treatments. The first group control (T1) were not shorned the wool, the second group (T2) wool of ewes were sheared at a distance of 1 cm from skin, while third group (T3) wool of ewes were sheared at level of the skin. The value of the weekly Temperature-humidity index THI in this study (32.33, 31.08, 31.70, 32.53, 33.45, 33.83, 34.60, 33.91, 31.90, 31.10, 31.84, 32.74) weeks respectively, while the monthly THI was (31.63, 33.48, 31.82) months of the study in July August and September in a respectively. The results showed a significant difference (p<0.05) between the treatments in body weight that were recorded at the tenth week where the THI reached. While the Second group recorded (2.16 ± 0.802) kg compared to T1, T3 (0.916 ± 0.723) (0.583 ± 0.490) kg respectively. While the total body weight of ewes and birth weight showed non-significant differences between different treated groups. From another hand the result showed non-significant differences feed and significant differences in water consumption between different treated groups. From the current study concluded that the level of shearing wool in Turkish Awassi ewes in conjunction with high temperature has an effect in production characteristics by reducing the effect of heat stress on the ewes.


2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
MS Rana ◽  
MA Hashem ◽  
MN Sakib ◽  
A Kumar

The research was conducted to study the effect of heat stress on blood parameters in indigenous sheep. Nine sheep were divided into three groups which were almost similar in age, sex and weight. Three groups were divided as zero hour (T0), four hours (T4) and eight hours (T8) heat exposure to direct sunlight. During experimental period temperature–humidity index (THI) value was calculated as 27.09 which indicate T4 and T8 groups were subjected to heat stress condition for at least four hours and eight hours respectively every day. The amount of red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb%) and packed cell volume (PCV%) were increased significantly (p<0.05) with the increase of heat stress but the amount of white blood cell (WBC) had no significant difference (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. It can be concluded that heat stress had significant changes on some blood parameters in indigenous sheep. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v12i1.21253 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 12(1): 91-94, June 2014


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Vesna Gantner ◽  
Mirna Gavran ◽  
Dragan Dokić ◽  
Božo Važić ◽  
Maja Gregić ◽  
...  

In order to determine the effect of breeding region on differences in persistency of heat stress effect in first parity Simmentals test-day records provided by the Croatian Agricultural Agency were analysed. Only cows with detected statistically significant decrease in daily milk yield at set temperature-humidity index (THI) threshold value (65, 70 and 75) were included in the further analyses. The persistency of heat stress effect regarding the daily milk traits was determined as a drop in the subsequent milk recordings (1st and 2nd). The research results indicate significant difference in animals’ response to heat stress effect due to breeding region and individual’s susceptibility to heat stress. The most pronounced and persistent negative effect of heat stress was determined in cows reared in Eastern region. Also, the negative effect of heat stress was more pronounced and more persistent in Simmentals that were heat stressed at the lower THI threshold values (cows that are more susceptible to heat stress).


2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47
Author(s):  
MURAT YILMAZ ◽  
TUFAN ALTIN ◽  
FUNDA KIRAL ◽  
TURGAY TAŞKIN ◽  
GAMZE SEVRI EKREN AŞICI ◽  
...  

This study was conducted to determine the impact of heat stress on some physiological and endocrine traits in Saanen goats raised under Mediterranean climate conditions. The effects of thermal stress on heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) on plasma total trii-odothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), Cortisol (C), and HSP70 concentrations were evaluated on twenty two Saanen goats of different ages in the second week of April 2013, July 2013, October 2013 and January 2014. Climatic data such as temperature (°C) and relative humidity (%) were recorded from Spring 2013 to Winter 2014. Live body and BCS values were also recorded during this period. The physiological parameters above were measured twice on each experiment day (morning and afternoon) in all seasons. Blood samples were collected in each afternoon of the experiment day to analyze T3, T4 C, and HSP70. All data were analyzed. According to the values of rectal temperature (RT), it was estimated that the goats were under extreme heat stress only in the summer season. The heart rate (HR) values in the winter season for morning and noon periods were found statistically significant (p < 0.05). The average respiratory rate (RR) in the spring season was found significantly lower. On the other hand, the RR for the noon period in the summer was higher than in the fall and winter seasons (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between summer and fall seasons for C values. The highest value (96.62 ng/ml) was obtained in spring, whereas the lowest (60.58 ng/ml) in the fall. T3 levels in the fall and winter were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). They were the highest in the winter and spring, and the lowest in fall. T4 and T4/T3 levels in the winter were found to be statistically higher than in other seasons (p < 0.05). The lowest value for T4 was found in the fall and for T4/T3 in summer. Mean HSP70 value in spring was found to be statistically low (p < 0.05). The changes in THI values in different seasons, particularly between mornings and afternoons, indicated that thermal stress was evident, and that the animals became resistant to it eventually. The fluctuations of the C, T3, T4 and HSP70 values were indicators of the animals’ reaction to thermal stress. The THI values in spring, which were between 16 and 18 THI, may be considered within the ideal comfort zone for goats. It was observed that Saanen goats were able to adapt to seasonal weather changes in the environmental conditions of the region....


Author(s):  
Magdalena Kuchcik ◽  
Krzysztof Błażejczyk ◽  
Agnieszka Halaś

AbstractSignificant changes in climate variables in the last decades resulted in changes of perceived climate conditions. However, there are only few studies discussing long-lasting changes in bioclimatic conditions. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present the temporal and spatial distribution of hazardous heat and cold stress conditions in different regions of Poland. Its focus is on long-lasting changes in such conditions in the period 1951–2018. To assess changes in hazardous thermal stress conditions, the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was used. UTCI values at 12 UTC hour (respectively 1 pm winter time, 2 pm summer time) were calculated daily based on air temperature, relative humidity, total cloud cover and wind speed at 24 stations representing the whole area of Poland. We found that the greatest changes were observed in minimum (1.33 °C/10 years) and average (0.52 °C/10 years) UTCI values as well as in cold stress frequency (− 4.00 days per 10 years). The changes vary seasonally and regionally. The greatest increase in UTCImin and decrease in cold stress days were noted from November to March and had the highest values in north-east and east Poland, and also in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. The trends in maximum UTCI are much smaller and not always positive. The spatially averaged trend in UTCImax for Poland as a whole was 0.35 °C/10 years and the increase in heat stress days was 0.80 days/10 years. The highest increases in UTCImax and heat stress days were noted in eastern and south-eastern Poland.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
Ruthaiporn Ratchamak ◽  
Thanaporn Ratsiri ◽  
Rujira Chumchai ◽  
Wuttigrai Boonkum ◽  
Vibuntita Chankitisakul

Heat stress strongly negatively affects reproductive traits in dairy cattle. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of heat stress in superstimulated Thai-Holstein crossbreds under tropical climate conditions. Data included 75 records from 12 superovulated Thai-Holstein crossbreds between 2018 and 2020. Cows were superstimulated with conventional treatment. The mean temperature-humidity index (THI) was evaluated for three data collection periods: during the 9, 21 and 42-day periods before the insemination day to determine the period in which THI mostly affected superstimulation responses. The THI levels/thresholds were determined and interpreted together with the superovulatory response. A significantly negative correlation was obtained for the THI during the period 9 days before insemination. Negative effects on the number of large follicles and corpora lutea began at a THI of 72 and were apparently severe after a THI of 77, similar to the ovulation rate, fertilized ova and transferable embryos (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, more degenerated embryos were found with THI values (p < 0.05). The superovulatory response in Thai-Holstein crossbreds under tropical climate conditions is highly affected by heat stress starting at a THI of 72 and becomes more severe at a THI higher than 77.


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