The 13th Meeting of Dairy Club (Joint Venture of Alltech and UVAS) was held on Monday May 04, 2012 at Syndicate Room UVAS. Following was the agenda of meeting:
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas opened the house and gave warm welcome to the participants. He introduced the speakers and explained about eh agenda.
Presentation by Dr. Abdullah Javed
Dr. Adullah delivered lecture on “Heat Stress Management in Indigenous dairy Animals”. During his lecture he discussed:
What is heat stress?
- Stress denotes the magnitude of forces external to the bodily system which tend to displace that system from its resting or ground state
- Environmental factors external to the cow would contribute to stress (in this case heat stress) while the displacement of the cow from the cow’s resting state would be the response to the external stress
Signs of Heat Stress
- Decreased drymatter intake
- Decreased lying time
- Decreased milk yield
- Decreased Fertility rate
- Decreased response to infection
- Increased respiration rate
- Increased salivation
- Increased Standing time
- Increased water intake
- Increased rectal temperatures
- Increased abortions
Other related problems
- Subclinical acidosis
- Lameness
- Abortions
- Decreased immunity
- Lower conception rates
- Prolonged calving intervals
Control and Management of Heat Stress
- Things to consider
- Facility design (shade)
- Easy water access
- Increased ventilation
- Evaporative cooling
- Feeding management
- Minimizing Stress by good management
Feeding Management During Summer
- Buffers such as sodium bicarbonate should be used during hot weather
- Added dietary fat is an excellent way to increase energy content of the diet
- Increase energy density
- Use high quality forage
- Water availability
- Increase sodium and potassium
- Yeast rumen stabilizer
- Increase sodium and potassium in diet (RDP)
- Avoid feeding too much protein
- Add biotin and Zinc methionine
His presentation was based on practical experience which Dr. Abdullah had from working at different dairy farms in Pakistan. He included many pictures which made his lecture more understandable. All audiences appreciated the lecture.
Dr. Abdullah paid thanks to his team (Dr. Samy and Dr. Nanand for their inputs in making his lecture more applied).
Question/Answer session:
Dr. Ghulam Habib appreciated the lecture and agreed with the techniques for relieving heat stress.
Dr. Ashraf, Engro foods:
Sodium bi Carbonate and fresh water in heat stress are helpful.
Maj. Yousaf, Stock Feeds:
We can relieve heat stress by adding 0.5-1% common salt in water. Grouping of animals on the basis of their physiological and production stage is also useful.
Dr. Nanand, Dada Dairy:
On the basis of his previous experience in Egypt and other countries he told that during summer season sprinkling the water on back of the cows is good. He discouraged the use of mist in Pakistan as it creates more problems in humid conditions.
Dr. Samy Barakat, Dada Dairy:
We should expect decrease in milk production as well as other problems before onset of summer. We have to prepare our animals before summer heat stress hits the animals. By proper heat stress management we have controlled decrease in milk production to a great deal.
Dr. Rao Ijaz, UVAS:
We should focus acid base balance and hooves health in summer season.
Dr. Afzal, UVAS:
How much hay should be fed?
Dr. Abdullah:
2-3kg
Yasir Arafat, UVAS:
What are symptoms of SARA?
Dr. Abdullah:
Drop in milk fat is an indicator. We can test rumen content as well as blood for this purpose.
Prof. Dr. Abdullah couldn’t deliver his lecture as he was busy in another meeting.
At the end Dr. Jadoon paid thanks to Dr. Abdullah, Dr. Samy and Dr. Nanand of Dada Dairy on their contribution to the industry.
The schedule for Next Meeting:
Date: Monday 09-07-12
Time: 5:45p.m
Venue: Syndicate Room, UVAS, Lahore
Lecture 1.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah, UVAS
Topic: Heat Stress Management in indigenous dairy animals
Lecture 2.
Dr. Faisal Nawaz, Nestle Sarsabz Farm
Topic: Better farm practices and management tips |
