Responses of Lactating Holstein Cows to Chilled Drinking Water in High Ambient Temperatures

Abstract

In Experiment 1, 12 lactating Holstein cows were provided drinking water of either 10.6 or 27.0 degrees C for 24 h/d in a changeover design to examine the effects of water temperature on feed intake, water intake, respiration rate, rectal temperature, plasma thyroid hormone concentration, and milk yield. The 1st wk of each 3-wk treatment period was for adjustment and the next 2 wk were comparison periods. Least squares means for DM intake as a percentage of body weight were 3.68 and 3.57 for 10.6 and 27.0 degrees C treatment groups. Water intakes in liters per kilogram of dry feed consumed as a percentage of body weight were 21.3 and 20.3. Respiration rates were 70.5 and 81.0 breaths per minute; rectal temperatures were 39.7 and 39.9 degrees C, Triiodothyronine averaged .88 and .75 ng/ml; thyroxine, 42.4 and 39.2 ng/ml; cortisol, 3.03 and 2.06 ng/ml; and progesterone in milk, 4.58 and 3.15 ng/ml for the 10.6 and 27.0 degrees C treatment groups. Milk yield averaged 25.9 and 24.7 kg/d and FCM averaged 25.6 and 23.6 kg/d, respectively. In Experiment 2, 24 cows given a choice of chilled or warm water showed a clear preference (about 98%) for the warm water. If cows are given chilled water of 10 degrees C continuously, no warm drinking water should be available. Chilled drinking water lowered respiration rates and body temperatures and increased feed intake and milk yield.

Effects of heated drinking water on the production responses of lactating Holstein and Jersey cows

“…16 ± 6.35, 49.16 ± 6.21, 50.20 ± 8.44, and 53.97 ± 6.85 L d -1 for the respective water treatments at a mean ambient facility temperature of 12°C (Cunningham et al 1964). The attraction for warmer drinking water by cattle is not fully elucidated, but the response in this current experiment was similar to other animals (Szlyk et al 1989) and cattle (Wilks et al 1990) research where the favored drinking water temperature approximates body temperature. Olsson and Carlsson (1999) have postulated that in goats, cooler water initiates activation of the sympathetic nervous system resulting in a rise in blood pressure and heart rate causing attenuation of thirst earlier than occurs with warm water.…”

“…The major emphasis of research on drinking water temperature has been on monitoring the body cooling response of lactating cows to chilled drinking water in high ambient temperature zones Wilks et al 1990). These experiments have shown inconsistent conclusions and, in addition, for some experiments animals were not allowed ad libitum access to imbibed water ) and chilled water was only available for specified time periods and intakes recorded for only part of the day (Baker et al 1988).…”

“…In one experiment, cows were given a choice of selecting water at 10 or 30°C for a 10-min interval. All cows preferred (98%) the 30°C water (Wilks et al 1990). In other animal studies, the preferred drinking water temperature was that which approximates normal body temperature (Szlyk et al 1989).…”

“…There are two points of view in the literature regarding ambient temperature and its relationship with the temperature of drinking water accessible to dairy cows. In heat-stressed environments, water is the principal medium for dissipating body heat and the chilling of drinking water may alleviate hyperthermia Baker et al 1988;Wilks et al 1990;Beede 1991). Although, for cows that are exposed to cold environments (3 to 10°C) it may be advantageous to warm the drinking water (Andersson 1985).…”

Water Salinity Under Heat Stress in Grazing Conditions

“…For example, in an experiment conducted in Texas (Wilks et al, 1990) it was observed that cows drinking water cooled to 10°C presented lower respiration rate (70 VS. 81 rpm), lower rectal temperature in the afternoon (39.8 vs. 40.2°C) and higher milk production (26.0 vs. 24.7 L/ cow/day), as compared to animals drinking water at 27°C.…”