scholarly journals Assessing the effect of barns structures and environmental conditions in dairy cattle farms monitored in Northern Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Lovarelli ◽  
Elisabetta Riva ◽  
Gabriele Mattachini ◽  
Marcella Guarino ◽  
Giorgio Provolo
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Thermal Buoyancy ◽  
External Conditions ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
Cattle Farms ◽  
Structural Aspects

Animal welfare is a fundamental pillar for livestock farming, and it can be endangered by a series of aspects, among which is the presence of undesired microclimates. This condition can be monitored by measuring the temperature-humidity index (THI), an index able to inform about the emergence of heat-stressing conditions in the barns. The THI can be influenced by the external environmental conditions and the barn structure, orientation, thermal buoyancy, and roof insulating materials. In order to evaluate these structural aspects of buildings and the consequent microclimate, in this study, a survey was carried out in 8 dairy cattle barns located in the northern part of Italy that were monitored continuously during thermoneutral, warm, and cold periods. Experts observed the structural aspects ,and the environmental parameters were measured with sensors. From the results emerged that the barns had structural characteristics that considerably affect the internal microclimate, with openings, roof height, forced ventilation, and building orientation playing a significant role in estimating of the THI in the barn. The more critical period was the warm one when the structures could not mitigate the external conditions, and THI exceeded the threshold of 72 for a big share of the period in all monitored farms (range between 50-80% of observations). In the best situation, the cooling systems were able to maintain the external conditions. The results confirm the importance of the barn design and of an appropriate ventilation to improve air exchanges.

scholarly journals Comparison of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM) concentrations in calvesraised under organic and conventional conditions

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahri Bayram ◽  
Vecihi Aksakal ◽  
Ibrahim Turan ◽  
Selim Demir ◽  
Halit Mazlum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Blood Serum ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Newborn Calves ◽  
Cattle Farms

The objective of study was conducted on to compare immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations in calves raised under organic and conventional conditions. 30 newborn Holstein Friesian calves (15 rose under organic and 15 under conventional conditions) in two dairy cattle farms. Blood samples were taken from 30 newborn calves at birth (before taking colostrum) and on 14th day to compare immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations in calves raised under organic and conventional conditions. Furthermore, blood and colostrum samples were also taken from the mothers included into the study. IgG and IgM concentrations in colostrum and blood serums were determined using commercial ELISA kits. IgG concentrations at birth (0.79±0.34, 1.64±0.95 mg/mL) and on the 14th day (46.5±21.5, 70.5±27.8 mg/mL) in calves raised under organic conditions were lower than those raised under conventional conditions (p is less than 0.01). Calves raised under organic conditions also had lower IgM concentrations than calves raised under conventional conditions at birth (0.23±0.03 and 0.28±0.11 mg/mL, respectively) and on the 14th day (2.76±0.56 and 4,30±1.03 mg/mL, respectively) (p is less than 0.05, p is less than 0.01). IgG concentrations in the blood serum of cows raised under conventional conditions were higher than those raised under organic conditions (p is less than0.01), while no difference was found with respect to IgM concentrations (p>0.05). No difference was found in the IgG and IgM concentrations of colostrum obtained from cows raised under organic and conventional conditions. In both the husbandry systems, positive and significant (p is less than0.01) correlations were found between the Ig concentrations of the mothers and offsprings. Consequently, it can be suggested that higher Ig concentrations in cattle raised under conventional conditions might be due to poorer environmental conditions.

scholarly journals Dairy Cows Activity under Heat Stress: A Case Study in Spain

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2305
Author(s):  
Adrián Ramón-Moragues ◽  
Patricia Carulla ◽  
Carlos Mínguez ◽  
Arantxa Villagrá ◽  
Fernando Estellés
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Stress Conditions ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Precision Livestock Farming ◽  
Activity Sensors

Heat stress plays a role in livestock production in warm climates. Heat stress conditions impair animal welfare and compromise the productive and reproductive performance of dairy cattle. Under heat stress conditions, dairy cattle modify their behavior. Thus, the assessment of behavior alterations can be an indicator of environmental or physiological anomalies. Moreover, precision livestock farming allows for the individual and constant monitoring of animal behavior, arising as a tool to assess animal welfare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of heat stress on the behavior of dairy cows using activity sensors. The study was carried out in Tinajeros (Albacete, Spain) during the summer of 2020. Activity sensors were installed in 40 cows registering 6 different behaviors. Environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) were also monitored. Hourly data was calculated for both animal behavior and environmental conditions. Temperature and Heat Index (THI) was calculated for each hour. The accumulated THI during the previous 24 h period was determined for each hour, and the hours were statistically classified in quartiles according to the accumulated THI. Two groups were defined as Q4 for no stress and Q1 for heat stress. The results showed that animal behavior was altered under heat stress conditions. Increasing THI produces an increase in general activity, changes in feeding patterns and a decrease in rumination and resting behaviors, which is detrimental to animal welfare. Daily behavioral patterns were also affected. Under heat stress conditions, a reduction in resting behavior during the warmest hours and in rumination during the night was observed. In conclusion, heat stress affected all behaviors recorded as well as the daily patterns of the cows. Precision livestock farming sensors and the modelling of daily patterns were useful tools for monitoring animal behavior and detecting changes due to heat stress.

The influence of external conditions on sound pressure in the pistonphone at the infrasound frequency range

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-72
Author(s):  
A. V. Konkov ◽  
D. V. Golovin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Primary Method ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
External Conditions ◽  
Numerical Estimations

The influence of environmental conditions on a sound pressure reproduced by the primary method in the measuring chambers of the Pistonphone in the frequency range from 1 mHz to 250 Hz is estimated. Numerical estimations of influence of environmental conditions on sound pressure in pistonphone measuring chambers are given and special requirements to system of maintenance of required external conditions are specified.

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