May 20, 2015

 

Cargill's feeding solutions deal effectively against heat stress in cows

 

 

Cargill's customised feeding solutions are effective in the management of heat stress in cows during hot seasons, according to a recent data shared by the company's animal nutrition business.

 

With summer in full swing in the northern hemisphere, heat stress generally begins to affect a cow's performance when the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) reaches 68, and can significantly reduce their appetite, fertility and milk production levels.

 

"Our proprietary feeding solutions, called I.C.E.™ and Cooling Pack™, which are tailored to meet customers' specific needs and the environment in which they operate, help protect cows from heat stress effects at the cellular level," said Ercole Zerbini, Cargill's global ruminant technology director.

 

"Adding key nutritional ingredients such as an osmolyte can help cows stay hydrated, avoid dramatic increases in overall body temperature, recover faster after high heat and humidity, and improve pregnancy and fertility rates."

 

Commercial farm trials in Texas, US, demonstrated an increase in conception rates of 7.1% in multiparous cows (animals with more than one calf) and 8.1% in primiparous cows (animals that are calving for the first time).

 

A trial in Brazil indicated a 13% increase in fertility rates.

 

Another study in the country showed better protection against the depression in milk fat concentration often seen when cows are exposed to heat.

 

Heat stress is known to bring increased risk of ruminal acidosis.

 

However, the Cargill Innovation Center in Velddriel, the Netherlands, had worked towards improving the maintenance of rumen pH.

 

"A customer in the US was able to maintain 70 pounds (32kg) of milk with 4.6-to-4.7 percent butterfat and 3.6% protein through the whole summer," Noah Hughes, a Cargill sales consultant, said.

 

"Previously, milk production at this dairy farm would drop to 60 pounds (27kg) per day in the peak summer heat."

 

Cargill's I.C.E.™ and Cooling Pack™ feeding solutions for heat stress are currently available in the US, Brazil, France, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Canada and Peru.