Physiological and productive responses of Holstein cows in fosterage submitted or not to shading and aspersion in premilking

Abstract

It was aimed, to evaluate the influence of some acclimatizated resources in production and composition of milk in physiological variables, respiratory rate, heart rate and rectal temperature. It was used 14 cows of Holstein breed, in an experiment with completely randomized design with two treatments: shading waiting room added with aspersion (conditioned) and waiting room without acclimatized structure (not conditioned), having seven cows per treatment. The climatic data of each treatment were registered to calculate the temperature and humidity index. The daily milk production was significantly superior in conditioned treatment opposite to not conditioned, 13,97 against 11,24kg of milk, respectively. There was not difference among the treatment for milk components (protein, nonfat dry extract, density and fat). The temperature and humidity index remained inside the thermal comfort zone for cows during fosterage (72-78) in conditioned treatment, however the inverse have happened in not conditioned treatment, 71,34 and 79,76, respectively. The animals that did not have acclimatization had presented an increase of rectal temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate, when compared to those animals in conditioned treatment.