Heat stress advice for dairy farmers as weekend heatwave forecast

More than four in 10 dairy farmers (41%) say that heat stress is a priority risk for their business, according to research by NFU Mutual.

Meanwhile a study last year by Dr Tom Chamberlain with Lallemand, found production losses as a result of heat stress equated to £24,000-90,000 depending on herd size.

“Heat stress in cows is becoming a major concern for many dairy farmers as summers get hotter,” said Gregor Belcher, farm specialist at NFU Mutual. “There are various measures dairy farmers already take to mitigate heat stress in cattle, such as providing suitable access to water troughs and pipes, ensuring these water flow rates are sufficient and identifying paddocks with greater shade ability and utilising those on hot days.

“Longer term actions may include adjusting milking times to coincide with the cooler periods of the day, installing shade and fans in holding yards and cow sheds and reviewing breeding plans to focus on genetic strains that have greater heat tolerance levels.

“These measures can help reduce the negative impact that heat stress can have on welfare and a herd’s productivity.”

NFU Mutual has recently partnered with parametric insurance specialist Skyline Partners, broker Gallagher and insurance provider Markel to develop and pilot an index-driven insurance cover, which pays out if increased hot weather causes heat stress.

The trial is running this summer with selected customers in key dairy regions across the UK. The long-term aim is to investigate a range of on-demand parametric covers which would automatically compensate farmers in the agriculture and horticulture sectors for climate-related losses.

“We believe this type of cover may become increasingly important to protect other agricultural and horticultural sectors as the effects of climate change intensify, and we are working with farmers and growers to understand the need for a range of bespoke policies,” Mr Belcher added.

Working with Dr Tom Chamberlain, NFU Mutual has shared the following dairy heat stress advice: 

Short-term actions 

• Providing suitable access to water troughs and pipes are in good working order, have no leaks, and that the flow rate to the troughs is sufficient.
• Identifying paddocks that have greater shade availability and utilising these on hot days.
• When buffer feeding adding suitable feed additives to ensure cattle are receiving peak nutrition to support rumen health function.

Medium-term actions 

• Implementing ‘Siesta’ Management where appropriate – this technique involves cows grazing directly after milking and then being ‘housed’ at around 10am, with buffer feed available to them. Cows are then sent back out to graze after afternoon milking to graze until dusk.
• Installing greater numbers of water troughs in key locations so that cows are never more than 100m away from a clean water source.
• Adjusting milking times to coincide with the cooler periods of the day.
• Installing shade and fans in holding yards and cow sheds.

Long-term actions 

• Reviewing breeding plans to focus on genetic strains that have greater heat tolerance levels.