Breaking free from the chains of the past Where
truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law
waiting on some printed page We're charting new
ground in the digital age From genomic codes
to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold
them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight
we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast,
where we deliver hard -hitting analysis and unapologetic
truth -telling for dairy industry professionals.
I'm your host, and today we're diving deep into
a topic that's costing dairy producers billions
of dollars every year, heat stress management.
With summer 2025 approaching fast, we're not
here to waste your time with basic advice about
providing shade and water. Instead, We're exposing
why your current cooling strategy is likely leaving
money on the table and revealing the advanced
technologies, genetic tools, and integrated strategies
that forward -thinking producers are using right
now to protect their herds and their bottom line.
If you've been accepting summer production drops
as inevitable, or if you think those old panel
fans from 15 years ago are still cutting it,
this episode is going to challenge everything
you thought you knew. about heat stress management
we're talking intelligent soaking systems that
slash water use by 70 percent genetic selection
for heat tolerant cows that maintain milk production
when others can't and smart monitoring systems
that detect problems before they cost you money
the uncomfortable truth while you're fine -tuning
your genetic selection program and debating feed
additives your cows might be suffering from heat
stress that's negating all those investments
Today, we're changing that. Let's get started.
Welcome to this deep dive. Look, summer's coming.
And if you're in dairy, you know exactly what
that means for your cows and your bottom line,
heat stress. But what if the way we've always
handled it just isn't enough anymore? That's
really the core question we're tackling today,
isn't it? We're digging into why the... let's
say traditional approaches to cooling cows are
falling behind. Right. And exploring the kind
of advanced integrated strategies that, you know,
top producers are adopting right now. It's really
about getting ahead of heat stress before it
costs you big money. And our source material
for this dive, it's a sharp piece from www .thebullvine
.com. The title is Heat Stress 2 .0. Why your
current cooling strategy is costing you big money.
It's less about the basics you already know,
shade and water and all that, and more about
the, well, the cutting edge stuff. Precisely.
Our mission here is to pull out the key insights
from this Bullvine article. Not just the problem,
which we all know is bad, but the modern solutions.
Things involving smart tech in the barn, genetics,
nutrition. And the economics. Can't forget that.
Absolutely. Yeah. And crucially, the real economic
impact that drives the need for change. Okay,
so let's unpack what this article underscores
right off the bat. Summers are hotter, they're
longer, that seems... Undeniable. And those standard
fans and sprinklers many of us rely on. The article
argues they simply aren't cutting it for today's
high -producing Holsteins. They even pointed
out that 2024 saw heat stress losses hit record
highs. That feels about right, doesn't it? It
really does. And the numbers they present are,
well, they're pretty stark. This piece estimates
the U .S. dairy industry is losing around $1
.5 billion annually. just from heat stress and
lactating cows. Oh, $1 .5 billion. But what really
jumped out at me was how much it varies farm
to farm. I mean, we're talking losses from maybe
$72 a cow in cooler places, Wisconsin, for example.
Okay. Exploding to a staggering $700 a cow in
hotter climates like Florida or Texas. $700 per
cow. Per cow. That kind of spread just demands
a closer look at why some farms are weathering
it so much better than others. Yeah, $700 a cow
isn't just inconvenient. That's crippling for
a business. And the article makes it clear it's
way more than just the milk loss today. Absolutely.
They dive deep into what they call the hidden
costs. It's not just the immediate dip in the
tank, right? Right. Heat stress hammers reproduction.
Reduced conception rates are huge. You see more
metabolic disorders post calving, compromised
immune function leading to all sorts of other
health issues. And then there's this concept
they introduced, the legacy effect. Ah, yes,
the legacy effect. Explain that a bit more. Well,
the idea is that heat stress on your dry cows
has this lasting impact. It actually results
in offspring, their calves, having permanently
reduced productive potential. So it affects the
next generation. Exactly. It's like running a
poor heifer raising program, but the damage starts
in utero or during that crucial dry period. It
basically handicaps the next generation before
they even hit the milking string. It's a tough
truth, but it forces you to think really long
term. It really does. And the article poses,
well, a pretty challenging question based on
this. Are the big dollars you're spending on
top tier genetics or maybe that expensive new
feed additive? Yeah. Are they being completely
undermined by heat stress? How many AI services
are essentially wasted because cows are just
too hot to conceive? How much of that carefully
balanced TMR is going uneaten? Exactly. You're
optimizing all these inputs, spending serious
money on the latest advancements. But if the
cow's environment isn't managed properly. A significant
chunk of that investment is just, well, it's
evaporating. The authors are very clear. They
aren't spending time on the basics like shade
and water access. They assume you've got that
handled. They're focused squarely on the advanced
integrated strategies that actually deliver a
return on investment. Which leads us straight
into the revolution in cooling technology. The
bullvine piece is pretty blunt here, isn't it?
Those classic 36 -inch panel fans, maybe 15 years
old. They just weren't. design for the modern
high output cow we have today. They make the
point that the tech on some farms might be about
as effective as like trying to cool a barn with
a household fan or leaving a freezer door open.
Ouch. Yeah. But probably true for quite a few
operations. The article identifies several critical
flaws in those older systems. You get inconsistent
airflow, creating dead zones where cows get no
relief. Right. You get wasted water and increased
mastitis risk from outdated soaker controls that
just run on timers. Inefficient fans driving
up electricity bills. And crucially, major blind
spots where cooling is lacking. Particularly,
they point out, in the holding pen. Ah, the holding
pen. We'll come back to that. So what does next
-gen cooling actually look like, according to
this piece? They highlight intelligent soaking
systems first. Yeah, this is a significant leap.
Systems like the VES Artex Intelligent Soaker
2 .0, which the article mentions specifically,
move away from simple timers. They use sensors.
So they know when cows are actually there and
what the real temperature threshold is. This
allows for precision cycling, maybe a short soak,
30, 45 seconds, then a longer fan -only drying
period, like four or five minutes, that maximizes
the evaporative cooling effect. And the big payoff
there is less water use, I assume? Oh, a massive
reduction. The article suggests you could cut
water usage by 50, maybe even 70 percent compared
to those old timer -based systems. Wow. Plus,
you get less wet bedding, which means less mastitis
risk. It's like they said, it brings the kind
of precision you see in robotic milking to cooling,
delivering the resource exactly when and where
it's needed, not just blasting water based on
the clock. Okay, beyond just soaking, what about
air movement itself? They talk about redesigning
ventilation tunnel and cross ventilation. Right,
so tunnel ventilation is all about creating high
-speed airflow, pushing air at, say, 1 .0 to
2 .5 meters per second down the length of the
barn. That sounds fast. It is. and that generates
a significant wind chill effect. The article
notes, an air speed of 400 feet per minute can
lower the perceived temperature by over 3 .7
degrees Celsius. That's real relief. Cross ventilation
then is directing that high speed air perpendicular
to the feed lane so it runs parallel to the stalls.
Cooling cows better where they're actually lying
down and resting. Makes sense. And they referenced
a University of Wisconsin study showing respiratory
illnesses were halved in cross ventilated barns
compared to naturally ventilated ones. That's
a pretty direct health benefit. And it sounds
like the controllers managing all this are getting
smarter, too, not just the fans and soakers.
Oh, absolutely essential now. The article really
stresses that smart controllers aren't, like,
optional anymore. Using variable frequency drives,
VFDs. Ah, the variable speed drives? Exactly.
The fans aren't just on or off. Their speed adjusts
gradually based on real -time data from multiple
sensors and, you know, sophisticated algorithms.
So it optimizes everything. Right. optimizes
the cooling power while minimizing resource use
water and electricity. They mentioned a California
study showing these optimized controllers cut
electricity use by 28 % annually compared to
old thermostat setups. It's like, you know, managing
your TMR mix with precision scales versus just
guessing with a shovel. Okay, the text sounds
impressive, but it always comes down to the bottom
line, the ROI. The article makes a pretty bold
claim here, suggesting cooling might offer a
higher return than some genomic testing programs.
That's going to raise some eyebrows, I bet. It's
definitely meant to make you think. But when
you look at the numbers they cite, it's compelling.
Cooling dry cows, for instance, consistently
shows favorable economics. They put a 5 .67 year
payback and a 1 .45 benefit cost ratio on it.
Wow. Profitable even at $13 .50 milk, they say,
for farms with over 100 heat stress days a year.
And the piece suggests tunnel ventilation can
justify an extra investment of up to $332 per
cow space just based on preventing those milk
losses alone. And even the specific type of fan
you buy matters that much. It's pivotal, according
to the article. An inefficient fan can nearly
double the system's operating cost over its lifespan.
They basically say choosing the right fan is
as critical a decision as selecting the right
genetics for your herd's future. That really
puts it in perspective. It does. They also give
some practical advice based on farm size, right?
It's not one size fits all. Exactly. They tailor
it a bit. For smaller operations, maybe tie stalls.
It's about being targeted. Individual cow fans,
feed line soakers, maybe positive pressure tubes
in some cases. Medium -sized freestyle farms
should look at integrated fan and soaker systems,
maybe enhancing natural ventilation there possible,
and crucially, prioritizing dry cow cooling early
on because of that strong ROI and the legacy
effect we talked about. Right, that legacy effect.
And then for large farms, you can really explore
the full mechanical systems tunnel or cross vent,
definitely with smart VFD controls, comprehensive...
of monitoring, maybe evaporative pads if the
climate is right, like in arid regions. Okay,
facilities covered for now, but this article
calls the holding pen the industry's dirty secret.
That's a strong phrase. What exactly do they
mean by that? They mean it's consistently the
hottest spot on most dairies, period. And it
gets the least investment in cooling, generally
speaking. Think about it. You gather cows, often
tightly packed, in a confined building right
before milking, often with just terrible ventilation,
if any. They highlight the impact. A cow's core
body temperature can spike 3 degrees Fahrenheit
in just 20 minutes in a poorly cooled holding
pen. 3 degrees F in 20 minutes. After you've
maybe just spent money trying to keep them cool
in the barn, that seems completely counterproductive.
It totally undoes your efforts. Right before
a potentially stressful activity like milking,
The authors seem baffled, frankly, that holding
pen cooling often shows the fastest and highest
ROI of almost any heat abatement strategy. And
yet… And yet farms chronically underinvest there.
They put it right to you, the listener. Are you
one of them? Is your holding pen undoing your
other cooling efforts? So what are the simple
high -impact fixes they recommend for the holding
pen specifically? It boils down to massive airflow
and effective soaking. They talk about high -capacity
fans providing over 1 ,000 CF meters per cow.
That's a lot of air. Soaker's designed with large
water droplets and overlapping spray patterns,
so you really soak the cows effectively, not
just mist them. Open sidewalls, they suggest
over 60 % open if possible to maximize natural
airflow when the fans aren't running full tilt.
And just managing cow flow to minimize the time
they spend standing packed in that pen. Their
message on this seems particularly urgent in
the article. It really is. They make it a key
action point. If you do absolutely nothing else
before summer 2025 hits, upgrade your holding
pen cooling. They're pretty confident your cows
and your milk check will show you the return
almost immediately. Okay, let's shift gears a
bit. Let's talk nutrition. The article touches
on navigating all those different feed rep pitches
and focusing on what actually has a proven impact
during heat stress. Right, because heat stress
fundamentally alters how a cow functions internally.
It reduces her dry matter intake, it can mess
with rumen health, and it increases her maintenance
energy needs just to try and stay cool. So nutrition
has to adapt. Exactly. Nutrition plays a vital
role in counteracting that. But you need strategies
that are actually backed by solid science, not
just marketing hype. What specific additives
or strategies does the bullvine piece endorse
them? They mention a few key ones. Osmolites,
sometimes called osmoprotectants, things like
betaine or trimethylglycine. Okay. They state
this isn't just a sales pitch. It's supported
by research. They reference a 2024 Journal of
Dairy Science meta -analysis and recommend about
15 grams per day. The idea is it helps cows retain
water better and partition energy more efficiently,
which improves milk yield in the heat. Interesting.
What about yeast cultures? Those are pretty common.
Yeah, but they emphasize specific strains of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The article explains
these select strains help stabilize rumen pH,
which often tanks during heat stress, leading
to sera. subacute ruminal acidosis. They also
support the good fiber -digesting bugs in the
rumen and bolster the immune system. They even
point to a 2025 Journal of Animal Science study
showing certain strains actually decreased cow
body temp and respiratory rate while improving
performance by influencing energy metabolism.
Pretty specific benefits. Electrolytes seem like
a no -brainer, but what's the specific angle
they take? Yeah, obviously heat stress causes
cows to lose more potassium K and sodium A through
sweat and panting. The piece recommends boosting
dietary K to maybe 1 .5, 1 .8 % of dry matter
and NA to 0 .50 % in hot weather diets. Okay.
But they stress focusing on overall DCAD management,
the dietary K shenanian difference. Basically,
aiming for a more positive DCAD in the diet helps
buffer the cow's system, counteracting the metabolic
acidosis that can happen with heavy panting.
This, in turn, helps improve dry matter intake
and milk yield. They kind of describe DCAD as
the pH balancer for the cow's whole system during
heat. And with cows eating less, getting enough
energy in them is crucial. Exactly. Since DMI
drops, you need to pack more energy into every
single bite she takes. The article suggests adding
rumen -protected fats, maybe 3 -5 % protected
fat in the diet, to increase energy density.
The key is that these fats provide energy without
generating as much metabolic heat during digestion
as large amounts of carbs or protein would, and
crucially, without disrupting normal rumen function.
Now, the article throws a bit of a jab at nutritionists,
doesn't it? Asking about proactive planning.
It does, yeah. It asks pretty pointedly, when
was the last time your nutritionist presented
a comprehensive summer heat stress feeding program?
Back in February. Good point. The point isn't
really to blame the nutritionist, I don't think,
but to emphasize that these strategies need to
be planned and implemented before the severe
heat stress actually hits, not as a reaction
after intake has already dropped. Right. It's
like, you know, waiting until your corn crop
is completely wilted before you even think about
turning on the irrigation. It's too late then
to maximize the benefit. And importantly, nutrition
isn't a standalone fix, is it? Not at all. The
article strongly makes the point that these nutritional
strategies are most effective when they're part
of an integrated approach, working hand in hand
with effective cooling systems. You really need
both. It's like needing good genetics and good
management to get top production. You need good
nutrition and a good environment to effectively
combat heat stress. One without the other is
leaving performance on the table. Okay, let's
shift to maybe the most forward -thinking area
they touch on. Genetics. Breeding for a cooler
or at least a warmer future. Yeah, this really
acknowledges the reality of climate change, doesn't
it? While pushing production is always going
to be key, the article argues that forward -thinking
dairies, guided by this kind of information,
are starting to consciously incorporate heat
tolerance into their breeding goals. Our goals
need to evolve with the climate. And the slick
gene seems to be the main example of this right
now. It's certainly the most tangible example
they highlight. It's a dominant mutation in the
prolactin receptor gene. And the result is a
very short, sleek, shiny hair coat. And the key
point the authors make is that this isn't some
futuristic genetic dream. It's commercially available
today. You can buy semen from slick bowls. Okay,
so what kind of actual impact does the slick
coat have? Well, carriers of the gene consistently
maintain a lower core body temperature in hot
conditions. The article says around 1 .1 degrees
Fahrenheit lower. That's significant. It is.
And they reference University of Florida research
showing slick cows producing about 10 pounds
more milk per day during the hot summer months
compared to their non -slick herd mates in the
same environment. 10 pounds a day, just from
the coat. Seems like it makes a big difference.
And they note that companies like Select Sires
were offering heterozygous Holstein sires carrying
the allele way back in 2021. So it's been out
there. Are there real -world farm examples cited
in the article? Yes. They mention a producer,
Rafael Lopez Lopez in Puerto Rico, who's recorded
really significant benefits, over 1 ,800 pounds
more milk per lactation, plus improved reproductive
efficiency with his S -L -I -C -K Holsteins.
Yeah. And farmers in the southern U .S. states
are apparently seeing these cows visibly appear
more comfortable and just holding their production
better than their conventionally coated herd
mates during heat waves. The article kind of
compares it to finding a pole gene that also
boosts production. It's a major win -win if it
fits your system. Beyond just this single slick
gene, is there a broader genomic approach to
heat tolerance mentioned? Yes, absolutely. Genomic
selection for heat tolerance is developing. The
article notes that Australia has actually had
genomic breeding values, or BVs, specifically
for heat tolerance since 2017. Really? How do
those work? These BVs essentially capture how
much an individual cow's milk production is predicted
to decline as the ambient temperature and humidity
increase. The heritability is estimated around
0 .13 to 0 .17, which is definitely high enough
to make meaningful genetic progress through selection
over generations. They also point out something
interesting. Fertility traits actually show increased
heritability during heat stress. which suggests
that breeding specifically for reproductive efficiency
in warm conditions could be a very effective
strategy. So for a producer listening, how do
they start actually incorporating this into their
breeding program? Well, the article's advice
is really about balance selection. You need to
consider your specific situation. Your current
climate, sure, but also the projected future
climate for your area. Look at your existing
barn infrastructure. How much can cooling mitigate
things? And what's the actual economic value
heat tolerance has on your farm's bottom line?
Then talk to your genetics providers. Ask them
specifically about heat tolerance traits. Ask
about SICK carriers. If they can't give you concrete
information or data, maybe it's time to explore
other options or push them for it. The authors
frame it kind of like this. You would base your
herd health decisions on advice from the 1980s,
right? Hopefully, yeah. So don't ignore climate
adaptation in your breeding decisions for the
next decade and beyond. It's becoming that important.
That makes a lot of sense. Okay, moving on to
another layer of technology, smart monitoring.
Using tech to detect heat stress before you see
those obvious signs like house panting or a big
drop in the tank. Yeah, this is all about that
shift from reactive to proactive management that
the article really advocates for. Relying on
just your eyeball test isn't really enough anymore.
By the time you see visible signs of heat stress,
you've already lost money and the cow has likely
suffered some physiological damage. These smart
systems can pick up subtle changes days earlier.
So what kind of tools are we actually talking
about here? Rumin boluses are a big one they
mention. These sit in the rumen and continuously
measure core body temperature, which is probably
the most critical single indicator of heat stress.
Okay. The article references a 2024 Jay Dairy
Science study showing milk productivity started
to drop when rumen temps went above 39 .15 Celsius.
That's about 102 .5 Fahrenheit. Boluses give
you that kind of critical information in real
time. They can also track rumination, sometimes
water intake, maybe even rumen pH or heart rate,
depending on the bolus. And then there's wearable
tech too, right? Collars, tags. Exactly. Collars,
ear tags, leg bands. These primarily track behavioral
changes. We know cows under heat stress reduce
their rumination time. They lie down, lest they
stand more to try and dissipate heat. Their overall
activity changes. Sometimes you can pick up skin
temperature shifts. These behaviors often change
before you see a drop in milk yield. And I guess
automated milk data provides clues, too, even
if it's later. Yeah, the article calls it a bit
of a lagging indicator, but still useful information,
absolutely. You'll see the decreased yield eventually,
maybe changes in milk composition like milk fat
depression, sometimes an increase in milk conductivity
or somatic cell count, as stress impacts udder
health. But the key, as always with data, is
what you do with it, right? It's not just about
having the alerts. Absolutely. Critical point.
An effective system doesn't just generate alerts.
Those alerts should trigger specific predefined
actions or protocols on the farm. The article
suggests having a tiered approach, maybe mild,
moderate, and severe heat stress alerts, each
with corresponding protocols. Like what? Well,
a mild alert might trigger someone to just verify
barn conditions are optimal, check fans and soakers.
A moderate alert might mean maximizing all cooling
systems, maybe making specific dietary adjustments,
ensuring constant feed push -up and water availability.
A severe alert could involve minimizing all stressful
handling, prioritizing cooling for the most vulnerable
groups, maybe even implementing emergency nutrition
strategies. They use the analogy of milking system
warning lights to get an alert so you can act
before there's a major breakdown or loss. Okay,
so we've covered a lot of ground. technology
in the barn, the crucial holding pen, specific
nutrition strategies, forward -looking genetics,
and smart monitoring. But the Bolivine article
argues the biggest mistake producers make is
tackling these things individually, in isolation.
The real key is integration. This is arguably
the central message of the whole piece. A piecemeal
approach, just adding a few fans here or a feed
additive there, is inefficient. It doesn't maximize
your effectiveness or your return on investment.
You could have the absolute best cooling system
in the world. But if your nutrition program isn't
adjusted correctly for heat stress, you're still
leaving milk and components on the table and
probably hurting reproduction. You could be breeding
for heat tolerance with the slick gene, but if
your holding pen is still a sauna twice a day,
you're still putting immense stress on those
cows. The article hammers home the need for a
holistic integrated strategy where all the pieces
work together. Did I give examples of farms where
this kind of integrated approach has paid off?
Yes, they do. They mention a Kansas dairy case
study where the farm upgraded their freestall
fans from older 48 -inch models to newer 72 -inch
ones and significantly improved their holding
pen and parlor cooling with more fans and high
-pressure fogging systems. And the result? The
result wasn't just visibly happier cows, but
they were able to maintain cow vaginal temperatures
during heat events that were comparable to dairies
in much cooler climates. and importantly they
saw consistent measurable improvement in fertility
rates that's concrete very they also cite the
ustam dairy projecting over ten thousand dollars
in extra monthly income That came from a combination
of increased milk yield and better fertility,
achieved just by establishing integrated cooling
soakers and fans on the feed lines and in the
wash pans. Those are powerful financial examples.
Okay, so for the producer listening right now,
maybe feeling a bit overwhelmed but wanting to
take action, what's the practical action plan
for 2025, according to this Bullvine article?
Where do they even start? The authors lay out
a pretty clear three -step process, which I think
is helpful. Step one, conduct a vulnerability
audit. An audit. Sounds serious. Well, it just
means honestly assessing your farm's specific
weak points when it comes to heat. Look hard
at your climate zone. Are you dealing mainly
with dry heat or high humidity? That affects
which cooling strategies work best. Consider
your farm type. A tie stall barn needs different
solutions than a large free stall. And critically,
audit your existing infrastructure. Where are
the real shortcomings in shade coverage, ventilation
capacity, water trough space, and access points?
And especially that holding pen cooling. You
have to be brutally honest with yourself about
where the gaps are. Okay, identify the weaknesses,
then step two. Step two, implement a tiered approach
to intervention. Don't try to do everything at
once, maybe. Phase one, things you should do
immediately or ensure are perfect. Focus on the
foundational stuff. Universal shade access, they
suggest, aiming for 40, 50 square feet per cow.
Abundant clean water target 1 .5 to 2 linear
inches of trough space per cow. Maximize your
basic ventilation clear obstructions. Make sure
fans are clean and maintained. Optimize natural
airflow if you rely on that. Get the absolute
non -negotiables right first. Makes sense. Phase
two, maybe before peak summer hits. Right. Phase
two is enhanced cooling. This means targeting
those high -risk areas you identified in your
audit again, they really hammer the holding pin
here. It's also the time to improve dry car cooling,
remembering that strong ROI and the legacy effect
on future generations. And look seriously at
water and energy efficiency upgrades, like intelligent
soakers, or putting VFDs on your existing fans
if possible. And phase three, this sounds like
the longer -term integration piece. Exactly.
Phase three is advanced integration. This is
where you bring it all together systematically.
Develop and implement that heat -specific nutrition
program with your nutritionist, starting the
planning in late winter, early spring. Actively
incorporate heat tolerance traits into your genetic
selection strategy over time. Consider investing
in smart monitoring technology to get ahead of
problems and fine -tune your management. and
adjust your daily management practices, like
timing stressful activities like herd checks
or pen moves, for the coolest parts of the day
whenever possible. Okay, audit, tiered implementation.
What's the final step in their action plan? This
one seems critical. The economics. Step three,
calculate your heat stress economics. The article
directly challenges you, the listener. Do you
really know what heat stress is costing your
specific operation? They strongly believe most
producers underestimate it. maybe by two or even
three times. Wow. To justify making investments,
you have to quantify your current losses. Compare
your milk production per cow in cool months versus
hot months. What's the gap? Calculate the true
cost of your reproductive struggles during summer,
extra services per conception, increased days
open. Try to estimate heat -related health costs,
more ketosis, DAs, mastitis. Then you can project
the potential financial benefits of the interventions
you're considering based on research or case
studies like the ones mentioned. And finally,
calculate the payback period for potential investments.
Total investment costs divided by the projected
annual net benefit. You have to run the numbers
for your own farm. That really brings us to the
article's conclusion, doesn't it? It feels like
a strong call to action, basically. Stop making
excuses about summer losses. That's the undeniable
takeaway, I think. Managing heat stress effectively
isn't optional anymore. Not if you want long
-term sustainability in a warming climate. And
the economic case, when you actually sit down
and run the numbers honestly, as they suggest,
is likely incredibly strong for most dairies.
And the returns aren't just limited to preserving
milk production during that July heat wave, are
they? Not at all. The article does a good job
summarizing the comprehensive benefits you get
from an integrated approach. Yes, preserve milk
production, absolutely. But also significantly
improve reproduction and reduce days open. Better
transition cow health. Fewer metabolic issues
post -calving. enhanced cow longevity and reduced
culling rates, and even better calf health and
future productive potential. Because the dam,
the dry cow, wasn't under severe stress. It truly
impacts the entire dairy system. So it's really
not just about surviving summer anymore. It's
about building a more resilient, more consistently
profitable farm year round. Exactly. The article
argues pretty convincingly. that the most successful
dairies of the future will be the ones that treat
heat stress management not as a seasonal emergency
scramble, but as a proactive, integrated, year
-round strategy. Much like how you approach preventative
herd health protocols or hoof trimming schedules,
it needs to be about continuous improvement based
on data and solid integrated strategies. And
the challenge they seem to leave us with. It's
pretty direct. Stop accepting summer drops in
performance and reproduction as just inevitable.
Stop waiting until June to start thinking about
it. Stop applying Band -Aid fixes that don't
address the root causes or integrate systems.
Commit to a truly integrated approach across
your facilities, your nutrition program, and
your genetic selection. Talk to your consultants.
your nutritionist, your vet, your genetics rep,
your equipment suppliers. Get them thinking collaboratively
about not just surviving this summer, but building
real resilience for the next decade and beyond.
And genuinely run those economic calculations
on your own farm. The article is confident that
for most operations, the numbers will reveal
that significantly more investment in this area
is highly justified. The final point the authors
leave us with is pretty powerful. I thought,
will you choose to address heat stress reactively,
scrambling after the losses are already hitting
your bottom line, or proactively, using the advanced
tools and integrated strategies that are available
today? That decision really impacts your profitability
and the long -term sustainability of your operation
for years to come. The question is, are you ready
to move beyond just basic cooling fans and sprinklers
and really implement Heat Stress Management 2
.0? Your cows and probably your bank account
will thank you if you do. That really forces
you to think about the future, doesn't it? Here's
a final thought, billing on that. Given the climate
projections we keep seeing and the clear economic
impact this Bullvine article details, could we
actually see heat tolerance traits, including
specific genes like that slick allele, become
more economically important in genetic selection
programs than maybe even some traditional production
traits, at least in certain hotter regions, within
the next decade? It's certainly something to
consider seriously as you plan ahead. Indeed
it is. A lot to chew on there. Well, we appreciate
you joining us for this deep dive today. Yeah,
thanks for listening. And remember, the source
material for our conversation today was that
excellent Bullvine article titled Heat Stress
2 .0, why your current cooling strategy is costing
you big money. You can find it and lots of other
great content over at www .thebullvine .com.
We definitely encourage you to check it out and
explore these concepts further for your own operation.
Absolutely. Until next time, try and stay cool
out there. That's a wrap on today's episode of
the Bullvine Podcast. If this deep dive into
advanced heat stress management has opened your
eyes to what's possible, don't wait until the
mercury rises to take action. Here's your challenge.
Stop accepting summer production drops as inevitable.
Stop waiting until June to think about cooling.
and stop putting Band -Aids on your heat stress
problems. The tools and strategies we've discussed
today aren't theoretical. They're being implemented
right now by producers who refuse to leave money
on the table. Head over to www .thebullvine .com
to read the full article, complete with ROI calculations,
implementation checklists, and the specific technologies
we discussed today. While you're there... Browse
our latest content covering everything from genetics
to management strategies that are shaping the
future of dairy farming. Got questions about
today's episode? Disagree with something we said?
We want to hear from you. Connect with us through
our website, and don't forget to subscribe to
the Bullvine Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
Remember, the most profitable dairies of the
future won't be those who react to heat stress
when it arrives. they'll be the ones who make
it an integral part of their year -round management
strategy. Your decision today will impact not
just this summer's milk check, but your dairy's
profitability for years to come. Until next time,
this is the Bullvine Podcast, where we speak
truth to power in the dairy industry. Stay cool
out there.