Looking for ways to add efficiency to the farm? Winter can be a great time to review the ventilation in your barn and make improvements.

Decisions on the dairy should be based on increasing efficiency to improve the bottom line. As you weigh the costs and benefits of cooling your cows, the numbers quickly add up: Cooling wins every time.

Think about your most stressful day. Now imagine that day lasts for several months. How productive would you be? How hard would you work? How much harder would you work if you weren’t stressed?

Regardless of where your farm is located geographically, every dairy can benefit from cooling their cows. Have you reviewed your barn’s cooling system lately? When evaluating or planning the cooling system for your herd, remember the five parts of cooling: SAAWW – shade, air exchange, air movement, water for drinking and water for cooling.

Cold temperatures can have many effects on a dairy farm. Frozen manure or waterers and frigid temperatures for workers can be management nightmares.

As summer winds down, there is no better time to reflect on how much our herds were impacted by heat stress. The results may surprise you!