Summer heat isn't just stealing milk, it's robbing
dairy farmers of $1 ,500 per cow annually. Welcome
to the Bullvine Podcast, where we tackle the
tough questions the dairy industry is too afraid
to ask. Today we're ripping the Band -Aid off
conventional heat stress strategies. Why are
63 % of heat stress costs hitting dairy herds
while most farms still rely on outdated fans
and prayers? We're exposing the $2 .9 billion
elephant in the barn. Half measures don't cut
it anymore. This episode, we're diving into the
proven system's tripling ROI, the hidden link
between dry cow cooling and your herd's genetic
future, and why your nutrition tweaks might be
fueling acidosis instead of fighting it. If you're
still treating heat stress as a summer nuisance,
you're subsidizing your competitors. Let's fix
that. All right, welcome back to the Deep Dive.
Today, we're really digging into something that
hits dairy farms hard every single summer. Heat
stress. Yeah, it's a huge financial drain. We're
talking figures north of $1 ,500 per cow. per
year. That's serious money just evaporating,
isn't it? Yeah. And industry -wide, the numbers
are kind of staggering. They really are. Somewhere
between, what, $897 million and $1 .5 billion
lost annually. That's what the cooling strategies
many farms already use. And potentially almost
$3 billion without any intervention. Yeah. Wow.
OK, so this isn't small potatoes. Not at all.
And for you listening, the farmers, the industry
pros who fight this battle year after year, we
want to go beyond the usual discussion. Right.
We're not just talking about that obvious drop
in milk. Exactly. We're diving deep into why
maybe those good enough or half measure strategies
might actually be costing you more than you realize,
bleeding you dry in hidden ways. OK, so less
about the bulk tank level, more about the sneaky
profit killers. That's the plan. We'll unpack
how heat messes with milk components, reproduction,
overall health, and the dry cows too, right?
That's often overlooked. Hugely overlooked. Yeah.
And it impacts the next generation. So yeah,
consider this a no -nonsense look at the full
economic sting. And why a really comprehensive
approach isn't just nice, it's, well, essential
for staying profitable. For sure. And let's be
honest, anyone who's worked a summer on a dairy
knows cows and heat don't mix well. Right. It's
not exactly news. But the sheer size of the financial
hit and how we sometimes, you know, stick with
Band -Aids when we need more, that's what's eye
-opening. Like trying to bail out a boat with
a teaspoon when there are holes in the bottom.
That's a pretty good analogy, actually. Okay,
let's get into the nitty -gritty then. We all
see milk production dip when it gets hot. That's
the obvious one. It's the most visible sign,
yeah. Easy to measure. But you mentioned earlier
the impact isn't the same everywhere. No, definitely
not. It varies quite a bit regionally. For instance,
a dairy in Wisconsin might see costs around,
say, $72 per cow per year. Still significant.
But compare that to Florida or Texas. You could
be looking at nearly $700 per cow. Wow. $700.
Yeah. And think about what that means in terms
of profit margins. Losing $700 per cow is like
losing the profit for maybe 2 ,000 to 3 ,000
pounds of milk. Just gone. Poof. Vanished with
the heat. Exactly. That's a big chunk of income
to just accept losing every year. Okay. So beyond
just less milk volume, where else is heat stress
punching us in the wallet? Well, let's look right
at that milk check. Beyond the gallons, heat
stress actually changes the milk itself. How
so? We often see a drop in protein percentage
and sometimes milk fat depression too. Okay,
why does that happen? Well, several reasons.
One key thing is the cow has a reduced supply
of essential amino acids reaching the mammary
gland. These are the building blocks for milk
protein. So less building material available.
Right, plus the whole rumen environment gets...
kind of thrown off. You get respiratory alkalosis
because the cow's panting so much trying to cool
down. Wait, panting affects the rumen. That's
interesting. It does. It changes the blood chemistry,
which impacts rumen buffering. And their feeding
patterns change too, which disrupts rumen function.
Okay, so it's a chain reaction. It really is.
And all these rumen issues mess with nutrient
digestion. Now think about how you get paid.
Components. Right. Butterfat and protein percentages.
Exactly. Premiums or penalties. So even a small
drop, like just one tenth of a percent in fat.
Yeah. That can easily cost a larger farm thousands
of dollars every single month. Ouch. So less
milk. And the milk you do get is worth less per
pound. That's a real double whammy. Hits you
right where it hurts financially. What about
longer term impacts? You mentioned reproduction
takes a hit. Yes. And this is where the costs
really add up silently, you know, over time.
Heat stress isn't just an immediate problem.
It has delayed effects. Absolutely. What's really
crucial to understand is the timing. Heat stress
can actually damage the eucocytes, the eggs,
like 40 to 50 days before they're even ovulated.
Hold on. 40 to 50 days? Yeah. The damage happens
way before you even think about breeding that
cow. Those potential pregnancies were compromised
weeks earlier. So that really hot spell you had
in July. could still be messing up your conception
rates way into September. That is a sobering
thought. You're fighting battles from weeks ago.
Precisely. While you're focused on the milk drop
during the heat, your future pregnancies are
already being jeopardized. And then you think
about the extra costs. Right. How many extra
straws of semen are you using? More preg checks
because cows aren't settling. It all adds up.
It's like a hidden summer tax on breeding. Definitely.
A substantial hidden cost. Okay, so we've got
milk components down, reproduction struggling.
What other financial leaks are hiding out there?
Health issues are another big one. Heat stress
weakens the cow's immune system. Making her more
susceptible. Significantly more to things like
mastitis, especially when it's hot and humid
and bacteria are having a field day. Makes sense.
What about lameness? Is there a link? There is,
actually. To cool off, cows tend to stand more.
They're trying to increase airflow around their
bodies. But all that extra standing? Puts more
strain on their feet and legs. Increases the
risk of lameness. Okay, and then the gut issues.
You mentioned Sarah. Exactly. Subacute ruminal
acidosis. The risk goes way up. Why is that?
Well, remember the panting. It reduces the natural
buffering from saliva. Plus, those altered feeding
patterns we talked about, maybe slug feeding
when it cools off, that destabilizes the rumen
pH. Which opens the door to other problems. Oh,
yeah. Reduced nutrient absorption, lower efficiency,
potentially other metabolic issues, and don't
forget the labor side. Dealing with more sick
cows. Right when your team is already stretched
thin because of the heat. Have you factored in
that extra treatment time, the medication costs,
the stress on your people? It's a domino effect,
isn't it? Sick cows, less milk, more work during
the toughest time of year. You got it. Now, you
also brought up dry cows earlier. That's something
I think really deserves more attention. Yeah,
I agree. What's the impact there? It's often
underestimated, but it's significant. Heat stress
during the dry period can actually impair the
development of the mammary gland itself. So it
affects the udder development for the next lactation.
Exactly. It means when that cow freshens, she
just doesn't have the physical capacity to produce
as much milk. We could be talking 8 to 11 pounds
less milk per day. 8 to 11 pounds a day just
lost from the start of that lactation. Right.
Because of heat stress during the previous dry
period. It's like hobbling her before the race
even starts. That's a huge hit to her potential.
And you said it affects the calves too. Yes.
This is where it gets really fascinating and
honestly a bit scary. It's called fetal programming.
Fetal programming. Yeah. If the dam experiences
significant heat stress, especially late in gestation,
it negatively impacts the developing fetus. In
what ways? These cats can be born with weaker
immune systems. They might have lower survival
rates. Okay. And here's the kicker for the future
herd. The female offspring, the heifers born
from heat stress dams, they often have significantly
lower lifetime milk production. How much lower?
Studies suggest maybe 5 to 14 pounds less milk
per day across their first three lactations.
Wow. For potentially three whole lactations.
Yes. So that one hot summer when you didn't cool
the dry cows effectively, you might have just
set back your genetic progress for years to come.
So skimping on dry cow cooling isn't just a short
-term saving, it's a long -term cost. That's
a crucial point. It absolutely is. Okay, the
problem is clear. Heat stress is this multi -headed
beast costing farms a fortune. Let's talk solutions.
Fans, sprinklers, are we using them right? Getting
the ROI we expect. That is the million -dollar
question, isn't it? Because not all cooling is
created equal. Many farms are investing, but
maybe not in the most effective way to get the
best bang for their buck. It's about understanding
how cooling actually works. Exactly. The principles
of heat transfer. Are you really maximizing evaporative
cooling? Are you moving enough air? It's like
trying to cool your house efficiently. If you
leave all the windows wide open, you're using
energy but not getting the result. Okay, let's
break down the common methods. Fans and sprinklers.
That's the standard combo, right? It is, and
often a very good one, especially in more humid
climates. The research is pretty clear. The combination
is much better than just fans or just sprinklers
alone. Why is the combination so important? The
sprinklers need to thoroughly wet the cow's coat,
right down to the skin. not just a light mist.
Then the fans provide the crucial airflow over
her body. To speed up evaporation? Exactly. That
evaporation is what pulls the heat away. It's
a powerful synergy. Yet you still see farms with
just fans or sprinklers that don't provide enough
water, or the cycle timing is off. It's like
having a milking system without pulsation, maybe.
You're missing a key part of the process. That's
a good way to put it. You're not getting the
full efficiency. What about the bigger systems?
Tunnel or cross -ventilated barns. Those are
definitely a step up in terms of controlling
the environment. When they're designed well,
often using evaporative cooling pads at the air
inlets. Like the swamp coolers. Sort of, yeah.
They can create a much more consistent, cool
environment. Studies show significantly lower
body temps, much smaller drops in milk production
in well -managed tunnel barns, for example. They
sound like a good option, especially if natural
ventilation isn't great. Definitely. If your
barn location or size or orientation limits natural
airflow, these mechanical systems can be invaluable.
But a bigger investment up front, presumably.
Generally, yes. But the level of control is much
higher. Now, you touched on climate earlier.
Does that really dictate the best tech? Yeah.
How important is matching the system to the local
humidity? It's absolutely critical. Humidity
is key. In humid areas, like much of the Midwest
or Northeast, the air can't hold much more moisture.
Right. So your best bet is directly wetting the
cows, soaking sprinklers combined with high air
speed from fans. Okay. And in drier places, like
the West or Southwest? There, the air can absorb
more moisture. So systems that cool the air itself,
like misters that create a very fine fog, or
those evaporative cooling pads in tunnel or cross
vent barns can be very effective. But using the
wrong system is bad. Oh, yeah. Using misters
in a humid climate. You basically just create
a scheme bath. You make it harder for the cow
to cool off because evaporation slows right down.
That makes sense. So know your humidity. Okay,
back to the money. These systems, especially
the more advanced ones, cost real dollars. Is
the investment truly worth it? What's the ROI
look like? Let's look at the numbers because
they're pretty persuasive. Take dry cow cooling
specifically. Investing in that has shown an
average payback of around 5 .7 years. That's
pretty solid. It is. Milk pre -coolers, which
help with milk quality and save energy, often
pay back even faster, maybe 3 .5 years on average.
Okay. And the big ventilation systems. When you
look at something like tunnel ventilation, the
reduction in milk losses alone can justify a
much higher initial investment than just basic
fans and sprinklers. Some studies suggest it
justifies spending up to an extra $332 per cow
space. So the math works out. It's not just about
cow comfort. It's tangible financial return.
Absolutely. The money you save each year by preventing
those losses, milk, repro, health, gives you
a really attractive return on that initial investment.
It's like earning interest instead of losing
principal. Exactly. In some really hot regions,
the savings in just the first summer can actually
get close to paying for the upgrades. So given
those numbers, why the hesitation sometimes?
We invest heavily in parlors and feed storage.
Why is cooling sometimes seen as, I don't know,
optional? That is the persistent question, isn't
it? It feels like maybe some producers have just
accepted summer losses as inevitable, a cost
of doing business. Instead of seeing it as a
problem with a solvable, profitable solution.
Right. We wouldn't accept a milking system that
leaves half the milk behind or feed storage that
ruins half the TMR. We invest to fix those. Effective
heat abatement should be seen the same way. as
essential infrastructure i certainly think so
in many places it's just as critical to maintaining
performance as anything else during those hot
months okay point taken let's shift gears to
the cow herself beyond the environment what about
nutrition how can we help her cope from the inside
out Nutrition is a massive piece of this, and
it's way more than just, you know, tossing in
some extra buffer. It needs a more strategic
approach. Definitely. A proper heat stress feeding
strategy means reformulating the entire ration
to account for what's happening physiologically
inside that cow. Okay, so what are the key things
we need to adjust in a summer ration? Well, first
off, energy density is key. Cows naturally eat
less when it's hot. Dry matter intake drops.
Right. So you need to pack more energy into every
bite they do take. This often means using supplemental
fats, especially rumen and ERT or bypass fats.
Why bypass fats? They provide energy without
generating as much heat during rumen fermentation
compared to, say, carbohydrates. We also need
to look closely at fiber. How so? Replacing some
of the rapidly fermented carbs with highly digestible
fiber sources helps maintain energy intake but
can also lower the risk of sera. Think of it
as a more stable energy release, like a rumen
surge protector, maybe. Oh, I like that. A rumen
surge protector. Okay, what about protein? We
need to make sure enough essential amino acids
get downstream to the small intestine, even if
rumen microbial protein synthesis might dip a
bit. So maybe more bypass protein or other sources.
Exactly. Using more rumen -undegradable protein
or perhaps some slow -release nitrogen sources
can help ensure her amino acid needs are met.
So it's about getting more energy in, but carefully,
while ensuring protein supply. What about specific
additives? Buffers, electrolytes, yeast, do they
really work? They absolutely can when used correctly.
Buffers like sodium bicarbonate are really important.
To counteract the effects of panting on rumen
pH. Precisely. Increasing bicarb to maybe 8 to
12 ounces per head per day can really help stabilize
that rumen pH, maintain fiber digestion, and
protect milk fat. Okay. And electrolytes. Critical.
Cows sweat a lot and they lose significant amounts
of potassium and sodium. So we need to replace
those. Definitely. We often need to boost dietary
potassium levels up to maybe 1 .5 to 1 .7 percent
of dry matter intake and watch sodium too. It's
surprising how often summer mineral levels look
just like winter levels. Like expecting your
truck to run the same coolant level in July as
in January. Exactly. It doesn't make sense. You
have to adjust for the conditions. And then there's
yeast. What's the benefit there? Specific strains
of live yeast or yeast cultures can really support
the rumen. They help stabilize pH. Some studies
suggest they might even help slightly lower body
temperature. And they can definitely help maintain
milk fat. So they're not just hype. They can
be useful tools. They can be very effective tools
for keeping that rumen microbiome happy under
stress. So it's a whole diet approach, not just
one magic ingredient. What about just the practical
side of feeding? Does how we feed matter in summer?
Oh, absolutely. Feed management is huge. And
let's start with the most basic, but maybe most
important, water. Access becomes even more critical.
It's non -negotiable. Water intake can jump 50
% or more. You need multiple watering points,
plenty of space, aim for like 1 .5 to 2 inches
of linear trough space per cow. And keep them
full. And keep them full with a fast refill rate.
And this is huge. Clean them daily. Daily. Every
day in the summer. Think about it. Would you
want to drink lukewarm water from a trough full
of algae and old feed? Point taken. No. Neither
do they. Cleanliness drives intake. Then think
about when you feed. Shift to cooler times. Yes.
Late afternoon, evening feeding often works well.
Maybe feed smaller meals more frequently to keep
feed fresh. Encourage consistent intake. Discourage
slug feeding. And keep pushing feed up. Constantly.
Ensure that TMR is well mixed and always accessible.
Minimize sorting. These aren't small things.
They're fundamental management for heat stress.
Okay. Environment, nutrition. Let's look at the
barns themselves. Are there simple facility tweaks,
things that don't break the bank that can help?
For sure. Many barns can be improved with some
relatively low cost adjustments. Ventilation
is king. What are the goals with ventilation?
Two main things. First... Air exchange, getting
the hot, humid, stale air out and fresh air in.
Aim for 40 to 60 air changes per hour in summer.
Okay, number one is air exchange. Number two...
Air speed over the cows. You want that moving
air, ideally three to five miles per hour, right
where the cows are resting, to help with evaporative
cooling. How do we achieve that practically?
In naturally ventilated barns, it starts with
the basics. Big sidewall openings, unobstructed,
let the air move through. And the roof design
matters. Absolutely. Adequate eave height helps,
and a properly sized open ridge vent is crucial
to let that hot air escape upwards. Heat rises,
let it out. But what if natural ventilation just
isn't cutting it? Maybe the barn design or location
is poor. Then mechanical ventilation fans, tunnel,
cross vent becomes necessary, not optional. It's
surprising how many barns are really designed
more for winter warmth than summer cooling. Limited
openings, maybe not enough slope for airflow.
Exactly. And one critical area that often gets
completely neglected. Where is that? The milking
parlor holding pin. Ah, yes. Cows packed in tight.
High density, high stress. That area needs aggressive
cooling. Multiple high -speed fans, maybe even
intermittent sprinklers. It makes a huge difference
to cow stress during milking. That's a really
key takeaway. Don't forget the holding pen. What
about water systems inside the barn? We hit on
intake, but placement and capacity matter too.
Multiple troughs spread out to reduce bullying.
And enough space at each one. That 1 .5 to 2
inches per cow, yeah. And check the refill rates.
Can they keep up when everyone wants a drink
at once? And clean them. Daily. Can't stress
that enough. Also, think about water temperature.
Exposed pipes in the sun can heat water up significantly.
So maybe insulate or shade water lines. Worth
looking into. Anything to keep that water cool
and appealing. Small details, big impact on intake.
Okay, we've covered cows, cooling, feed, facilities.
What about the people, the farm team working
in this heat? Great point. We absolutely cannot
forget the human element. Keeping cows cool often
means more work for people right when they're
also stressed by the heat. So we need strategies
for the team, too. Definitely. Smart scheduling
is step one. Can demanding jobs be shifted to
cooler parts of the day? Early morning, late
evening. Whatever possible. If not, implement
more frequent breaks. Make sure those breaks
are in cool shaded spots. Rotate people through
the really tough tasks. Maybe even bring in extra
help during peak heat. Seriously consider it.
And pay extra attention to new employees or people
just back from time off. They aren't acclimatized.
Is there data on that? Yeah. OSHA data shows
a scary high number of heat illnesses and fatalities
happen to workers in their first few days on
a job or right after returning. Acclimatization
is real. We need to protect them. So scheduling
breaks acclimatization? What else? Water, water,
water. Easy access to cool drinking water. Encourage
them to drink before they feel thirsty. Provide
shaded or air -conditioned rest areas. Absolutely
essential. Encourage light -colored, loose clothing.
And most importantly, training. Training on heat
stress. Yes. Everyone, workers, supervisors,
needs to know the risks, recognize the signs
in themselves and others, know the prevention
strategies, and know exactly what to do in an
emergency. Like quick toolbox talks before shifts.
Perfect idea. Reinforce it constantly. A heat
-stressed employee isn't just unsafe, they're
less effective, maybe less observant of the cows
too. Protecting the team is part of protecting
the herd. It all ties together. So the overarching
theme here seems to be that prevention just pays
way better than reacting after the fact. The
data couldn't be clearer on that. implementing
comprehensive preventative strategies gives a
much, much better return than just treating sick
cows or accepting lost milk. You mentioned some
figures earlier. Yeah, one analysis suggested
optimal abatement systems could cut the total
annual cost of heat struck by something like
40 % nationwide. 40 % reduction in cost, that's
huge. It is. Another study showed farms with
optimal cooling had about a 43 % lower total
cost that includes losses and mitigation costs
compared to farms doing nothing. So being proactive
just makes overwhelming economic sense. Undeniably,
you're not just saving milk volume, you're preventing
that whole cascade. The repro issues, the health
problems, the potential early culling, the costs
just stack up. So why isn't it treated with the
same urgency as, say, preventing transition cow
diseases? That's the puzzle, isn't it? We have
protocols for ketosis, for DAs. We wouldn't just
accept high rates of those. Heat stress needs
that same preventative mindset. It's predictable
and largely preventable. Okay, so for listeners
who are nodding along saying, okay, I'm convinced
I need to do more, what's the action plan? Where
do they start for maximum impact? Right, let's
prioritize. Number one, the absolute non -negotiables.
Universal shade for all animals and abundant,
clean, cool, accessible water. These are basic
welfare foundations. Start there. What's next?
Target your intensive cooling efforts. Hit the
high priority zones. The parlor holding pen,
definitely. The feed bunk area. And the dry cows
all the way through the dry period. And ensure
good airflow over resting stalls. So focus the
heavy artillery where it counts most. Third,
nutrition. Get serious about a heat stress specific
ration. Energy density, the right fiber, appropriate
protein, buffers, electrolytes, maybe targeted
additives if needed. Don't just tweak the winter
ration. Reformulate properly for summer. Got
it. And finally, management and monitoring. Adjust
routines less handling in the heat. Use low stress
techniques. Regularly monitor cows and people
for heat stress signs. And critically, keep your
cooling equipment maintained. Fans work better
clean. Sprinklers work better unclogged. Makes
sense. Check the systems are actually doing what
they're supposed to do. So it's environment,
nutrition, management all working together. Exactly.
It's a holistic approach. And it really represents
a shift we need to make. How so? Heat stress
isn't just a southern problem anymore. With climate
change, it's a growing challenge everywhere.
The old way reacting to milk drops with a few
fans just isn't enough to stay profitable and
keep cows performing well. The new paradigm is
comprehensive prevention. That's where success
lies in managing summer heat going forward. If
you stick with partial solutions, you're basically
guaranteeing you'll leave profit on the table.
It's that simple. So as we wrap this up, The
real questions for you listening are pretty direct.
First, what concrete changes are you going to
implement before the heat really hits this season?
And maybe more pointedly, how much longer can
your dairy really afford to treat heat stress
like it's just some unavoidable seasonal annoyance
instead of the major preventable economic drain
the evidence shows it is? The key takeaways seem
clear. Prevention pays far better than reaction.
There are huge hidden costs beyond just milk
volume. Don't ignore the dry cows, target your
cooling efforts, and get the nutrition right.
Proactive heat abatement isn't an expense, it's
profit protection. It's investing in the resilience
and success of your business. Thanks for joining
us on the Bullvine Podcast. If this episode lit
a fire under your heat abatement strategy, hit
subscribe and share it with the producer who's
still using a handheld thermometer. Want the
full breakdown? Head to thebullvine .com for
our summer heat survival guide, complete with
ROI calculators and a cooling system cheat sheet.
Until next time, stop reacting, start preventing.
Your bottom line can't afford another scorched
summer. Stay bold, stay profitable.