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E. MANAGING HEAT STRESS
y
y
Ensure adequate water availability to animals. A healthy normal cow needs about 100 liters
of water to manage heat.
y
y
Drinking water should be provided under shade to ensure cooling by evaporation.
y
y
Ensure shade over the animals. If trees are not available thatched roof of a minimum height
of 9 feet should be constructed. Agri-nets with 20% perforation could also be useful. In
desert like situations, community shades could be introduced.
y
y
Misting of water over the body of animals at least thrice in an hour is useful. Auto sprinklers
with mini pumps and cyclic timers should be preferred.
y
y
Air circulation in covered sheds should be increased. Ensure one ventilator of 3 x 1 feet per
cow. Use ceiling fans or blowers wherever power is available.
y
y
Create barriers against hot wind. Thatched wall should be preferred. Wet gunny cloth is
another option.
y
y
Feed the animals during morning, evening & night time.
y
y
Prefer grazing during early morning & evening hours.
y
y
Shave the hair coat (remove hair).
y
y
Ration to be changed so as to provide same nutrients at reduced dry matter intake.
y
y
Potassium rich mineral mixture should be preferred.
Procedure for taking the reading mentioned on the previous page
Managing heat stress can save your animal during summers