Typically, when the topic of heat stress comes up, northern New York is not the first region that pops into most people’s minds. Although it is true we do not tend to suffer from prolonged, extreme heat here in the north country, it is also true that it does not take much heat for high-producing dairy cows to begin experiencing the physiological distress that can ultimately lead to compromised production, immune function and reproduction.

Mechanical ventilation in tunnel- and cross-ventilated barns can be well worth the resources it requires to maintain a controlled, comfortable environment, but there are a few questions to be addressed: