Humidification–Cooling System in Semi-Insulated Box-Type Cowsheds Prevent the Loss of Milk Productivity Due to Thermal Stress
Heat stress is becoming an increasingly important problem in Lithuanian cowsheds. Microclimate formation systems were evaluated in the seven most popular cowsheds in Lithuania, with different wall and roof constructions, insulation, ventilation intensity controls, and one cowshed was additionally eq...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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Series: | Agronomy |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/5/1131 |
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author | Rolandas Bleizgys Vilma Naujokienė Jonas Čėsna |
author_facet | Rolandas Bleizgys Vilma Naujokienė Jonas Čėsna |
author_sort | Rolandas Bleizgys |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Heat stress is becoming an increasingly important problem in Lithuanian cowsheds. Microclimate formation systems were evaluated in the seven most popular cowsheds in Lithuania, with different wall and roof constructions, insulation, ventilation intensity controls, and one cowshed was additionally equipped with an air-cooling system—the air is cooled by spraying water droplets with a high pressure. In cowsheds equipped with fans to intensify the movement of air, the temperature does not fall below the outdoor temperature and the temperature humidity index (THI) is higher than outdoors. During the heat period, the THI rises to 82 and the cows get moderate thermal stress, which adversely affects feed intake and milk yield of dairy cows. In the cowshed, where the air humidification–cooling system is installed, the air temperature during heat is lower than the average in the field of 2.61 ± 0.74 °C. Although the relative humidity in the cowshed is on average 16.29 ± 4.12% wetter during heat than outside, the THI in the barn is lower than outside. The air temperature in this cowshed decreases by 3.17 ± 0.86 °C compared to cowsheds without an air humidification–cooling system. The air humidification–cooling system creates good conditions to reduce the conditions for cows to experience thermal stress. Further research is needed to optimize the amount of water spray and droplet size and increase the efficiency of the cooling system. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:30:07Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-3f10fc26ba69410da3228ee862222827 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2073-4395 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:30:07Z |
publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Agronomy |
spelling | doaj.art-3f10fc26ba69410da3228ee8622228272023-11-23T09:43:15ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-05-01125113110.3390/agronomy12051131Humidification–Cooling System in Semi-Insulated Box-Type Cowsheds Prevent the Loss of Milk Productivity Due to Thermal StressRolandas Bleizgys0Vilma Naujokienė1Jonas Čėsna2Department of Mechanics, Energy and Biotechnology Engineering, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentų Str. 11, Kaunas District, LT-52261 Akademija, LithuaniaDepartment of Mechanics, Energy and Biotechnology Engineering, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentų Str. 11, Kaunas District, LT-52261 Akademija, LithuaniaDepartment of Mechanics, Energy and Biotechnology Engineering, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentų Str. 11, Kaunas District, LT-52261 Akademija, LithuaniaHeat stress is becoming an increasingly important problem in Lithuanian cowsheds. Microclimate formation systems were evaluated in the seven most popular cowsheds in Lithuania, with different wall and roof constructions, insulation, ventilation intensity controls, and one cowshed was additionally equipped with an air-cooling system—the air is cooled by spraying water droplets with a high pressure. In cowsheds equipped with fans to intensify the movement of air, the temperature does not fall below the outdoor temperature and the temperature humidity index (THI) is higher than outdoors. During the heat period, the THI rises to 82 and the cows get moderate thermal stress, which adversely affects feed intake and milk yield of dairy cows. In the cowshed, where the air humidification–cooling system is installed, the air temperature during heat is lower than the average in the field of 2.61 ± 0.74 °C. Although the relative humidity in the cowshed is on average 16.29 ± 4.12% wetter during heat than outside, the THI in the barn is lower than outside. The air temperature in this cowshed decreases by 3.17 ± 0.86 °C compared to cowsheds without an air humidification–cooling system. The air humidification–cooling system creates good conditions to reduce the conditions for cows to experience thermal stress. Further research is needed to optimize the amount of water spray and droplet size and increase the efficiency of the cooling system.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/5/1131animal welfarehusbandrymicroclimatetemperature humidity indexheat stresscooling system |
spellingShingle | Rolandas Bleizgys Vilma Naujokienė Jonas Čėsna Humidification–Cooling System in Semi-Insulated Box-Type Cowsheds Prevent the Loss of Milk Productivity Due to Thermal Stress Agronomy animal welfare husbandry microclimate temperature humidity index heat stress cooling system |
title | Humidification–Cooling System in Semi-Insulated Box-Type Cowsheds Prevent the Loss of Milk Productivity Due to Thermal Stress |
title_full | Humidification–Cooling System in Semi-Insulated Box-Type Cowsheds Prevent the Loss of Milk Productivity Due to Thermal Stress |
title_fullStr | Humidification–Cooling System in Semi-Insulated Box-Type Cowsheds Prevent the Loss of Milk Productivity Due to Thermal Stress |
title_full_unstemmed | Humidification–Cooling System in Semi-Insulated Box-Type Cowsheds Prevent the Loss of Milk Productivity Due to Thermal Stress |
title_short | Humidification–Cooling System in Semi-Insulated Box-Type Cowsheds Prevent the Loss of Milk Productivity Due to Thermal Stress |
title_sort | humidification cooling system in semi insulated box type cowsheds prevent the loss of milk productivity due to thermal stress |
topic | animal welfare husbandry microclimate temperature humidity index heat stress cooling system |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/5/1131 |
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