Thermoregulation and Performance of Dairy Cows Subjected to Different Evaporative Cooling Regimens, with or without Pepper Extract Supplementation

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is an interaction between pepper extract (PE) supplementation and evaporative cooling regimens on the performance, thermal comfort, and metabolism of lactating cows. The experiment was designed as a double 4 × 4 Latin square using eight multiparous Holstein cows (days in milk 147 ± 43.8 days). Treatments were a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement; two evaporative cooling regimens [sprinkler cycles of 30 s on and 4.5 min off (R5) and 30 s on and 9.5 min off (R10)] were combined with no inclusion of pepper extract (CT) or 800 mg/cow daily of PE. The inclusion of PE allowed a greater reduction in the surface temperature of the coat, and the cows remained for longer periods in the feeding area. There was an interaction between the use of PE and the climate regimen for surface temperature, which was lower for PER5. Cows experiencing greater intermittency in the spraying cycles (R10) spent 35% more time at the feeding area. A significant interaction was observed for milk production, with greater production for CTR5 compared to the other treatments. The feed efficiency for R5 was higher than that for R10. The R5 treatment combined with PE reduced water intake. There was no significant difference in serum parameters other than gamma-glutamyl transferase, with an interaction between treatments and greater activity for PER10, and total protein and albumin, which had cooling effects that were higher for R10. The two factors tested interfered in different and dissociated ways. The evaporative cooling strategies were effective, and the R5 treatment resulted in higher feed efficiency and milk production. The inclusion of PE enhanced heat reduction in cows when they were subjected to a cooling regime.

Relief of The Impact of Heat Stress on Friesian and Cross-Bred Friesian Dairy Cows by Water Showering under Egyptian Hot Humid Summer Conditions in Nile Delta

“…Serum albumin levels were increased in both showering groups compared to their counterparts in shadedonly cows (Table 4). A similar effect for sprinkling was notified by Imbabi et al (2019) for buffalos and Holstein lactating cows (Peretti et al, 2022). In normal conditions, liver produces albumin and increasing its synthesis can use as an indicator for liver health, this may be an indirect response for cooling in the present study which permits the liver to be more efficient due to the general physiological conditions of the animal (Koch et al, 2016).…”

“…Skin temperature is a potential input into the thermoregulatory system that represents an integration of several physical and physiological factors (e.g., hair coat properties, ambient temperature, cutaneous vasomotion, and sweat rate) (Spiers et al, 2018). Under heat stress conditions, the cows' skin temperature was closely related to their RR (Collier et al, 2017;Peretti et al, 2022).…”

“…In addition, reducing body temperature provides more nutrient utilization for milk synthesis and blood-borne by elevation in the circulating IGF-1 as shown in Table 3, by which the liver and mammary tissues contribute (Sammad et al, 2020;Bernabucci et al, 2010). Also, the increased availability of blood glucose (Table 4) originating from propionate favors greater milk production instead of being used to regulate body temperature, through insulin (Wheelock et al, 2010), which is partially inhibited by reduced prolactin (Table 3) (Dunshea et al, 2013), resulting in more glucose directed to the mammary gland for the synthesis of lactose (Wattiaux and Howard, 2022) then increase the produced milk (Herbut et al, 2019).…”

Heat Stress as a Barrier to Successful Reproduction and Potential Alleviation Strategies in Cattle

“…Lower reproductive efficiency under heat stress can be minimized by adopting appropriate scientific strategies involving physical amendments to the environment and the genetic improvement of heat-stress-tolerant breeds [109,110]. Moreover, it is possible to secure reproductive success during summer through the application of advanced reproductive technologies, including hormonal treatments, ovulation synchronization followed by fixed-time artificial insemination, and the use of embryo transfer, to improve the chance of pregnancy [111,112].…”