<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Heat stress in livestock is a function of macro- and microclimatic factors, their duration and intensity, the environments where they occur and the biological characteristics of the animal. Due to intense metabolic processes, high-producing dairy cows are highly vulnerable to the effects of heat stress. Disturbances in their thermoregulatory capability are reflected by behavioural, physiological and production changes. Expression of thermoregulatory behaviour such as reduction of activity and feed intake, searching for a cooler places or disturbances in reproductive behaviours may be very important indicators of animal welfare. Especially maintain of standing or lying position in dairy cattle may be a valuable marker of the negative environmental impact. Highly mechanized farms with large numbers of animals have the informatic system can detect alterations automatically, while small family farms cannot afford these type of equipments. Therefore, observing and analysing behavioural changes to achieve a greater understanding of heat stress issue may be a key factor for developing the effective strategies to minimize the effects of heat stress in cattle. The aim of this review is to present the state of knowledge, over the last years, regarding behavioural changes in dairy cows (Bos Taurus) exposed to heat stress conditions and discuss some herd management strategies provided mitigation of the overheat consequences.</p>
</abstract>

Heat stress in livestock is a function of macro- and microclimatic factors, their duration and intensity, the environments where they occur and the biological characteristics of the animal. Due to intense metabolic processes, high-producing dairy cows are highly vulnerable to the effects of heat stress. Disturbances in their thermoregulatory capability are reflected by behavioural, physiological and production changes. Expression of thermoregulatory behaviour such as reduction of activity and feed intake, searching for a cooler places or disturbances in reproductive behaviours may be very important indicators of animal welfare. Especially maintain of standing or lying position in dairy cattle may be a valuable marker of the negative environmental impact. Highly mechanized farms with large numbers of animals have the informatic system can detect alterations automatically, while small family farms cannot afford these type of equipments. Therefore, observing and analysing behavioural changes to achieve a greater understanding of heat stress issue may be a key factor for developing the effective strategies to minimize the effects of heat stress in cattle. The aim of this review is to present the state of knowledge, over the last years, regarding behavioural changes in dairy cows (Bos Taurus) exposed to heat stress conditions and discuss some herd management strategies provided mitigation of the overheat consequences.

The effects of heat stress on the behaviour of dairy cows – a review

Department of Rural Building, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying

Department of Engineering for Livestock Management, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy

Department of Production Systems and Environment, National Research Institute of Animal Production

Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR)

Department of Cattle Breeding, Faculty of Animal Sciences

Department of Animal Hygiene and Animal Welfare

University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"The effects of heat stress on the behaviour of dairy cows \u2013 a review"}

Heat stress in livestock is a function of macro- and microclimatic factors, their duration and intensity, the environments where they occur and the biological...

The effects of heat stress on the behaviour of dairy cows – a review

Published Online: May 08, 2021

Page range: 385 - 402

Received: Jul 16, 2020

Accepted: Nov 17, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2020-0116

Keywords
environment, welfare, dairy cows, Bos Taurus, heat stress, behaviour

© 2020 Piotr Herbut et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The effects of heat stress on the behaviour of dairy cows – a review

Published Online: May 08, 2021

Page range: 385 - 402

Received: Jul 16, 2020

Accepted: Nov 17, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2020-0116

Keywordsenvironment, welfare, dairy cows, Bos Taurus, heat stress, behaviour

© 2020 Piotr Herbut et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
environment, welfare, dairy cows, Bos Taurus, heat stress, behaviour