title: A comparison of 2 evaporative cooling systems on a commercial dairy farm in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Efficacy of 2 cooling systems (Korral Kool, KK, Korral Kool Inc., Mesa, AZ; FlipFan dairy system, FF, Schaefer Ventilation Equipment LLC, Sauk Rapids, MN) was estimated utilizing 400 multiparous Holstein dairy cows randomly assigned to 1 of 4 cooled California-style shade pens (2 shade pens per cooling system). Each shaded pen contained 100 cows (days in milk=58±39, milk production=56±18 kg/d, and lactation=3±1). Production data (milk yield and reproductive performance) were collected during 3mo (June-August, 2013) and physiological responses (core body temperature, respiration rates, surface temperatures, and resting time) were measured in June and July to estimate responses of cows to the 2 different cooling systems. Water and electricity consumption were recorded for each system. Cows in the KK system displayed slightly lower respiration rates in the month of June and lower surface temperatures in June and July. However, no differences were observed in the core body temperature of cows, resting time, feed intake, milk yield, services/cow, and conception rate between systems. The FF system used less water and electricity during this study. In conclusion, both cooling systems (KK and FF) were effective in mitigating the negative effects of heat stress on cows housed in arid environments, whereas the FF system consumed less water and electricity and did not require use of curtains on the shade structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719.
authors.forename: X A
authors.initials: XA
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villar
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville 64468.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Al Safi Dairy Company, Al-Kharj, 11942, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oddy
authors.affiliation: Al Safi Dairy Company, Al-Kharj, 11942, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Haddad
authors.affiliation: Schaefer Ventilation Equipment, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lyle
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719. Electronic address: rcollier@ag.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Collier
mesh_terms: D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003612:Dairying / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D006799:Housing, Animal; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D056152:Respiratory Rate; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature
keywords: efficacy; evaporative cooling; heat stress; milk yield