Hot and bothered cows get £1.24 million study

Heat stress leads to low yields and behaviour changes in cattle.

We are making our homes fit for purpose to cope with climate change, but should we also be doing the same for our farm animals?

A new research project aims to address the problem of dairy cow heat stress to ensure sustainable milk production and improve cow welfare as temperatures look set to increase in the future.

Researchers are seeking to understand the interaction between temperature, “microclimates” within farm buildings, and cow physiology and behaviour. At high temperatures, dairy cows are known to suffer heat stress, which can reduce milk yield, impair fertility, and negatively affect their immune system and overall welfare. Such problems are likely to be compounded by temperature increases due to climate change, experts say.

The Universities of Reading, Essex, Cardiff and Writtle University College are collaborating on a £1.24 million BBSRC-funded research project that aims to understand and address the causes of dairy cow heat stress within farm buildings.  The project will bring together experts in animal and dairy sciences, mathematical modelling and statistics, and building design engineering.

Chris Reynolds, Professor of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Reading, said: “Heat stress due to climate change could have severe negative consequences for the health and productivity of dairy cows. Lactating cows have a high rate of metabolism, which makes them less tolerant of high temperatures. Research is essential to inform and shape future cow management strategies and building designs.”

Keeping a close eye on the herd

Research will take place at the University of Reading’s Centre for Dairy Research (CEDAR) and six commercial dairy farms across the UK. Individual cow behaviour will be continuously monitored using tracking sensors that record patterns of movement, activity, and space-use for each animal in the herd. Detailed observations of barn “microclimates” (temperature, humidity, air quality, ventilation) will also be obtained and combined with physiological data (cow body temperature, milk production, health).

Cows are known to adapt their behaviour to help cope with high temperatures and humidity: they may increase their intake of water, seek shade or areas of increased ventilation, or exhibit other individual and social behavioural responses, all of which can be observed.

Edward Codling, Professor of Mathematical Biology at the University of Essex, said: “Our tracking sensors will allow us to analyse how indoor-housed dairy cows respond to, and cope with, heat stress in an unprecedented level of detail. By combining animal tracking data with continuous sensor monitoring of barn microclimates we will be able to model and predict the complex interactions between cow behavioural choices and their housed environment.”

The data collected will inform development of housing designed to reduce heat stress and improve welfare.

Zhiwen Luo, Professor in Architectural and Urban Science at Cardiff University, said: “We have to respond to the changing environment and through better understanding of how cows interact with building microclimates, design housing and management systems that minimize heat stress and enable more sustainable dairy systems.”

First-of-its-kind research

The approach the team is taking, using bespoke animal tracking and environmental sensors from industry collaborators Omnisense and Smartbell to model how building design influences indoor microclimates and cow behaviour, has never been done in this way before.

The research consortium also has industry support from AHDB (the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board), The Dairy Group, Etex, Innovation for Agriculture, and Map of Ag, as well as Defra (the UK government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

Dr Jonathan Amory, Principal Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Writtle University College, said: “The climate crisis is bringing new challenges to animal welfare. By utilising new technology and working with industry, we can develop innovative solutions for improving livestock management.”