Pre-Weaning Calf Cooling
High temperatures can negatively impact a calf’s growth, physiology, immune function, health, and overall well-being. Effective heat abatement for pre-weaning dairy calves is overlooked yet critical to ensuring welfare, especially in hot climates or extreme summer heat.
Proper heat abatement strategies help reduce heat stress and maintain thermoneutrality to ensure the calf can grow optimally during this sensitive developmental period. Our lab addresses this critical need by developing heat stress benchmarks for dairy calves and exploring innovative strategies to enhance active cooling during hot summers in continental and subtropical climates.
Publications: Dado-Senn et al., 2020; Dado-Senn et al., 2020b; Dado-Senn et al., 2023; Dado-Senn et al., 2023b.
Quick Fact
Methods for heat abatement depend on housing type: individual vs. pairs or groups, indoor vs. outdoor…
Quick Fact
In summer, dairy calves begin to change their physiology at THI of 65 and temperatures as low as 70 F
.
Graduate students: Bethany Dado-Senn, Grace Larsen, Emily Tabor, Maverick Guenther
Photo Gallery & Key Findings
Solar-powered fans provide active
ventilation to the hutch interior
Hutch fans reduce ammonia levels and air-born bacteria,
improving calf microclimate
Active cooling via fans improves thermoregulation
Positive Pressure Ventilation Tube System
for outdoor wire-hutch calves reduces thermal indices & improves local microclimate
Horizontal airflow at calf height decreases thermal indices, boosts milk and grain intake, and promotes behaviors that reflect calf comfort.
THI benchmarks for dairy calves
Wisconsin: Respiration Rate 69 | Rectal Temperature 69
Florida: Respiration Rate 65 | Rectal Temperature 67
