During fond temperature , poor ventilation in b may ensue in cows expressing obvious signs of high temperature stress , such as breathing heavy or panting .
“ Cows are much more cold tolerant than we are and much less heat liberal than we are , ” say Jeffrey Bewley , assistant wing prof in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture ’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences . Cows begin to experience heat accent when the temperature humidness indicator exceeds 72 degree F.
Historically , dairy b were constructed like houses , striving to keep barns closed - in to protect cows from winter weather . However , building them that way ignored the fact that cows have a different temperature comfort range than citizenry . Research shows that middling fabrication - down clock time diminish from 10.9 to 7.9 minute per day as temperature increase . Thus , cows may alter stall usage if barns are not adequately ventilate .
Poor ventilation in b can result in increase respiratory problem and increased transmission of disease . Lack of proper ventilating system can lead to gamy wet tier , manure gases , pathogens and dust concentrations , which make an adverse surroundings for dairy cows .
“ For optimal yield and well - being , producers should provide dairy cows with a unceasing supply of fresh , clean air , ” Bewley says . “ oftentimes exchanging air travel removes or reduces the concentrations of dust , gases , odors , airborne disease organisms and moisture . ”
Ventilating BarnsMaximizing natural ventilation is the first step toward improving overall ventilation , Bewley stresses . innate airing relies on barn openings and orientation to take away heat and humidity from the moo-cow ’s environment .
Exhausted aura generally leaves the b through sidewalls and ridge openings . Although quondam barn designs suggested closed - in barn , current recommendations are to give the barn up to allow for better atmosphere central . Sidewalls provide for melodic line , heat energy and humidity to be easily and continuously removed from the b .
“ All of this is peculiarly decisive during the summertime , ” Bewley says . “ If producer are implicated about the potential negative effect of open sidewalls during the winter , sidewall curtains , which can be raised in the summer and lowered during the winter , may be add to eliminate this care . ”A ridge opening should also be provided on the roof of the b to facilitate air removal , he say , allowing warm , damp aura to rise and expire the barn , even on calm solar day . The ridgepole porta should be at least 2 inches per 10 feet of barn width . With overshot b roof , the ridge opening should be at least 3 inch per 10 feet of barn width .
The steeper the barn roof slope , the better the movement of the warm , moist air out of the rooftree volcano . Bewley recommends a b - roof incline of at least 3 column inch of rise to 12 inches of run , but a side of 4 inches of wage hike to 12 column inch of run is choose .
“ manufacturer are often resistant to this change because of fearfulness of precipitation entering the barn through the ridge porta . ” Bewley says . “ Although this is generally not a major problem , a ridgepole cap may be summate to annihilate this business organisation . A few weeks ago , I visited a manufacturer in westerly Kentucky who had constructed a novel barn with an open ridgepole blowhole . He said he was believe give the ridge volcano in his old complimentary - stall barn because he was so proud of with how the cows answer to the newfangled barn . He recognized that he could see dramatic improvements in cow comfort in his old b without spending a lot of money . ”
For many older barns with airing problems , the main opportunity for improvement is removing atomic number 50 or forest sidewall that jam natural winds from figure the b . Before removing these impediment , consider how this change might regard the structural wholeness of the b , Bewley explain . Producers may also supplement natural breathing with mechanical external respiration by tot up fans .
“ Adding buff to an existing freestall b is one of the highest return investments a dairy manufacturer can make , ” he enounce .
