As heat events become more frequent and more intense, dairy producers are reevaluating when – and how – they cool their cows.

Ensuring optimal calving care for newborns is a top priority for producers. However, the responsibility doesn’t end as the calves leave the farmyard. Special attention must also be given to their nutrition and overall well-being as they transition to spring pastures and continue to grow during the summer months.

As warmer weather approaches, preparing fans and ventilation systems should be a top priority for dairy producers. Heat stress can begin at relatively mild temperatures, especially when humidity is high, and its impact on intake, reproduction and health can linger long after temperatures cool.

Warm‑season annuals are gaining attention in the Southeast as producers look for higher‑quality forages that outperform traditional bahiagrass and bermudagrass.

Every dairy in the U.S. has experienced the effects of heat stress on dairy cows. There are a variety of management practices dairy producers can use to proactively address heat stress before it happens or support the herd to lessen the impact once it arrives. Yet with all that we know about managing and mitigating heat stress, there are still misconceptions.

Proper airflow in milking parlors and holding areas is essential for the well-being of the herd and the efficiency of dairy operations. By effectively removing heat, moisture, odors and contaminants produced by the cows, proper ventilation ensures the cows' comfort, prevents heat stress, maintains good air quality and supports animal health overall.

Every cattle operation deals with environmental stress in some form or another multiple times throughout the year. Heat, cold, mud, snow and ice – even extremes such as hurricanes, tornadoes or wildfires – can have profound and ongoing effects on a cattle operation.

Being prepared for the heat will result in the least amount of stress on the cows and the people dealing with these animals. The environment where the cows reside is the critical area of the barn to evaluate. Keep the ventilation system, including doors and fans, set to where the system was designed. These actions will allow cooler heads (and cows) to prevail.

The calendar never lies. While it may feel like New Year’s celebrations have scarcely fizzled, the calf crop is on the ground, the winter feed supply is dwindling, and patches of green grass are beckoning.