Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermal performance of a low-profile cross-ventilated freestall dairy barn with evaporative cooling pads in a hot and humid climate

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A commercial low-profile cross-ventilated system (LPCV) free-stall barn with evaporative cooling pads on the air intake side was used to assess the potential of cross-ventilation with evaporative cooling to alleviate heat stress in lactating dairy cows. A total of 5712 records (238 days × 24 h) of air temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) values were collected. In order to state the effectiveness of the ventilation system and potential heat stress, the temperature humidity index (THI) and enthalpy (h) were calculated outside and inside the LPCV barn. The cooling capacity of the LPCV system is greater in conditions of low humidity, and the difference between the values of the internal and external temperature reached −12 °C. The LPCV reduced exposure to heat stress, increasing the time cows spent in thermoneutral conditions. This system could reduce the occurrence of temperature above 25 °C from 33 to 5% and 11% in sections A (represents the inlet side of the barn) and D (represents the outlet side of the barn), respectively. On the other hand, the LPCV kept a high and constant rate of RH throughout the day. The average inside and outside AT were significantly different, but differences in temperature were observed across the width of the barn. Analyzing the barn by the indexes, the THI showed that the barn promoted cows more time confined under non-stressful thermal conditions (between 83.8 and 90% vs 68.7%) and stress period much lower compared to the external environment (between 10 and 16.2% vs. 31.3%). The enthalpy index showed that there was not much difference between the internal and external environments. The LPCV system is another installation alternative for raising dairy cow in a hot and humid climate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

References

  • Alvares CA, Stape JL, Sentelhas PC, Gonçalves JLM, Sparovek G (2013) Koppen’s climate classification map for Brazil. Meteorol Z 22:711–728. https://doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2013/0507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azevedo M, Pires MDFÁ, Saturnino HMEGDL, Lana ÂMQEGDL, Sampaio IBMEGDL, Monteiro JBNEGDL, Morato LEU (2005) Estimativa de níveis críticos superiores do índice de temperatura e umidade para vacas leiteiras 1/2, 3/4 e 7/8 Holandês-Zebu em lactação. R Bras Zootec 34:2000–2008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baêta FC, Souza CF (1997) Ambiência em edificações rurais–conforto animal. UFV, Viçosa, p 246

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker CA, Collier RJ, Stone AE (2020) Invited review: physiological and behavioral effects of heat stress in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 103(8):6751–6770. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17929

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brouk MJ, Smith JF, Harner JP (2001) Heat stress abatement in four-row freestall barns. In: Proc. of the Western Dairy Management Conference, pp 161–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Brouk MJ, Smith JF, Harner JP (2003) Effectiveness of cow cooling strategies under different environmental conditions. In: Proceedings of the 6th Western Dairy Management Conference, vol 2003, pp 141–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucklin RA, Bray DR (1998) The american experience in dairy management in warm and hot climates. In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE AMBIÊMCIA NA PRODUÇÃO DE LEITE. Anais... Piracicaba: FEALQ, Piracicaba, pp 156–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Castro Júnior SL de, Silva IJO da (2021) The specific enthalpy of air as an indicator of heat stress in livestock animals. Int J Biometeorol 65:149–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-02022-8

  • CIIAGRO (2013) Centro Integrado de Informações Agrometeorológicas. Disponível em: http://www.ciiagro.sp.gov.br/

  • Cortez LAB, Magalhães PSG (eds) (1992) Introdução a Engenharia Agrícola. Unicamp, Campinas

    Google Scholar 

  • Guesine GD, Silveira RMF, da Silva IJO (2023) Thermoregulatory, behavioral, and productive responses and physical integrity of primiparous and multiparous cows on compost barn in Brazilian tropical conditions. Int J Biometeorol:1–3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-023-02474-8

  • Johnson HD, Ragsdale AC, Berry IL, Shanklin MD (1962) Effects of various temperature-humidity combinations on milk production of Holstein cattle. University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Research Bulletin, p 791

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson HD, Vanjonack WJ (1976) Effects of environmental and other stressors on blood hormone patterns in lactating animals. J Dairy Sci 59(9):1603–1617

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lobeck KM, Endres MI, Janni KA, Godden SM, Fetrow J (2012) Environmental characteristics and bacterial counts in bedding and milk bulk tank of low profile crossventilated, naturally ventilated, and compost bedded pack dairy barns. Appl Eng Agric 28(1):117–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobeck KM, Endres MI, Shane EM, Godden SM, Fetrow J (2011) Animal welfare in cross-ventilated, compost-bedded pack, and naturally ventilated dairy barns in the upper Midwest. J Dairy Sci 94:5469–5479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morignat E, Gay E, Vinard J-L, Calavas D, Hénaux V (2015) Quantifying the influence of ambient temperature on dairy and beef cattle mortality in France from a time-series analysis. Environ Res 140:524–534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2015) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues VC, Silva IJO, Vieira FMC, Nascimento ST (2011) A correct enthalpy relationship as thermal comfort index for livestock. Int J Biometeorol 55:455–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan DP, Boland MP, Kopel E, Armstrong D, MunyakazI L, Godke RA, Ingraham RH (1992) Evaluating two different evaporative cooling management systems for dairy cows in a hot, dry climate. J Dairy Sci 75:1052–1059

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shiao TF, Chen JC, Yang DW, Lee SN, Lee CF, Cheng WTK (2011) Feasibility assessment of a tunnel-ventilated, water-padded barn on alleviation of heat stress for lactating Holstein cows in a humid area. J Dairy Sci 94:5393–5404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JF, Bradford BJ, Harner JP, Potts JC, Allen JD, Overton MW, Ortiz XA, Collier RJ (2016) 2016. Short communication: effect of cross ventilation with or without evaporative pads on core body temperature and resting time of lactating cows. J Dairy Sci 99(2):1495–1500

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JF, Harner JP, Bradford BJ, OVerton, M.W. (2008) Opportunities with low profile cross ventilated freestall facilities. Dairy research. College of Veterinary Medicine. Universirty of Georgia, Athens, pp 31–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith TR, Chapa A, Willard S, Herndon C Jr, Williams RJ, Crouch J, Riley T, Pogue D (2006a) Evaporative tunnel cooling of dairy cows in the southeast. I: Effect on body temperature and respiration rate. J Dairy Sci 89:3904–3914

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stowell RR, Gooch CA, Inglis S (2001) Performance of tunnel ventilation for freestall dairy facilities as compared to natural ventilation with supplemental cooling fans. Proc. 6th Int. Symp., Am. Soc. Agric. Eng., Louisville, KY, pp 29–40

  • Vasconcelos AA, Albuquerque CC, Carvalho JF et al (2020a) Adaptive profile of dairy cows in a tropical region. Int J Biometerol:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-019-01797-9

  • Vasconcelos AM de, de Carvalho JF, de Albuquerque CC, Façanha DA, Vega WH, Silveira RM, Ferreira J (2020b) Development of an animal adaptability index: application for dairy cows. J Therm Biol 89:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102543

  • Watt JR, Brown WK (1997) Evaporative air conditioning handbook, 3rd edn, Lilburn

  • West JW (2003) Effects of heat-stress on production in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 86:2131–2144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

To the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for granting the scholarship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment Livestock Research Group (NUPEA), Department of Biosystems Engineering, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

    Paulo Rogério Garcia, Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira & Iran José Oliveira da Silva

  2. Department of Animal Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

    Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira

  3. Equipe CASE, Yncréa Hauts de France-ISA Lille, 48 Boulevard Vauban, 59014, Lille Cedex, France

    Joop Lensink

Authors
  1. Paulo Rogério Garcia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joop Lensink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Iran José Oliveira da Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization: Paulo Rogério Garcia, Iran José de Oliveira Silva; methodology: Paulo Rogério Garcia, Iran José de Oliveira Silva; statistical analysis: Paulo Rogério Garcia; writing—preparing the original draft: Paulo Rogério Garcia; writing—review and editing: Paulo Rogério Garcia, Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira, Joop Lensink, Iran José de Oliveira Silva; supervision: Iran José de Oliveira Silva. All authors approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iran José Oliveira da Silva.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Supplementary Information

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Garcia, P.R., Silveira, R.M.F., Lensink, J. et al. Thermal performance of a low-profile cross-ventilated freestall dairy barn with evaporative cooling pads in a hot and humid climate. Int J Biometeorol 67, 1651–1658 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-023-02527-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-023-02527-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation