Sprinkling Cattle for Relief from Heat Stress

Abstract
SPRINKLING cattle under shades during the summer in the Imperial Valley of California for 1 min. every 30 min. when the temperature was above 80 F (27 C) resulted in significantly higher feed consumption and rate of gain compared with cattle under shades and not sprinkled. Efficiency of feed conversion, although favoring the sprinkling treatment, was not significantly improved over that of uncooled cattle. Sprinkling was as effective as a refrigerated air conditioned barn at 75 F (24 C) in one trial and more effective during a second trial. Sprinkling and refrigeration promoted greater comfort as indicated by lower respiratory rates and body temperatures in the afternoon. Both noncooled and cooled cattle consumed more feed and gained more weight with 40 ft2 (3.7 m2) per head of space than with 20 ft2 (1.86 m2). Copyright © 1973. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1973 by American Society of Animal Science.

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