Episode 354 - Hot Calves, Lower Gains: Rethinking Summer Calf Care - UMN Extension's The Moos Room
About this episode
This episode discusses the impact of heat stress on dairy calves and strategies to improve their comfort and growth.
Brad takes a closer look at heat stress in dairy calves and cows. This episode highlights several recent studies on how temperature-humidity index affects calf behavior, lying time, respiration rates, shade use, and growth performance. Brad discusses research from the University of Guelph, The Ohio State University, and Mississippi State showing that heat-stressed calves spend less time lying down, stand more often, breathe harder, and may gain less weight when shade is not provided. He also reviews a Texas A&M study using precision livestock technology to monitor drinking behavior, rumen temperature, and heat stress responses in robotic milking herds. The big takeaway: heat stress in calves deserves more attention. Simple strategies like shade cloth, better ventilation, and more thoughtful housing design may help improve calf comfort, growth, and long-term performance. Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message! Linkedin -> The Moos Room Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety Facebook -> @UMNDairy YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy…
People in this episode
Host: Brad
Topics covered
- heat stress
- dairy calves
- calf care
- temperature-humidity index
- growth performance
- livestock technology
Keywords
- heat stress
- calves
- dairy
- growth performance
- temperature-humidity index
- shade use
- ventilation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Guelph, The Ohio State University, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, University of Minnesota Extension
More episodes of The Moos Room™
- Episode 356 - Heat Stress and Water Intake in Dairy Cows - UMN Extension's The Moos Room
- Episode 355 - How Breed (Holstein and Crossbred) Influences Heifer Feed Intake and Emissions- UMN Extension's The Moos Room
- Episode 353 - Calf Research Roundup: Colostrum, Beef-on-Dairy, and Weaning Insights - UMN Extension's The Moos Room
- Episode 352 - Somatic Cell Count Genetics and Heifer Feed Efficiency - UMN Extension's The Moos Rom
- Episode 351 - High Oleic Soybeans: A New Tool for Dairy Rations? - UMN Extension's The Moos Room
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