Responses of Lactating Holstein Cows to Chilled Drinking Water in High Ambient Temperatures

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 1990-04, Vol.73 (4), p.1091-1099
• Main Authors: Wilks, D.L., Coppock, C.E., Lanham, J.K., Brooks, K.N., Baker, C.C., Bryson, W.L., Elmore, R.G., Stermer, R.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: absorcion de agua; absorption d' eau; agua potable; Animals; Body Temperature; Body Weight; bovin laitier; Cattle - metabolism; Cattle - physiology; chilled drinking water; cold; cows; dairy cattle; Drinking; drinking water; Eating; eau potable; environmental temperature; ete; feed intake; Female; frio; froid; ganado de leche; hormonas de la tiroide; hormone thyroidienne; Humidity; Hydrocortisone - blood; ingestion de pienso; lactacion; lactating cows; Lactation; Least-Squares Analysis; Milk - analysis; Milk - secretion; milk yield; prise alimentaire animaux; Progesterone - analysis; Random Allocation; rendement laitier; rendimiento lechero; respiracion; Respiration; stress hormones; summer; temperatura del cuerpo; temperatura del medio ambiente; Temperature; temperature ambiante; temperature corporelle; thyroid hormones; Thyroid Hormones - blood; vaca; vache; verano; Water; water uptake
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(90)78768-1

In Experiment 1, 12 lactating Holstein cows were provided drinking water of either 10.6 or 27.0°C for 24 h/d in a changeover design to examine the effects of water temperature on feed intake, water intake, respiration rate, rectal temperature, plasma thyroid hormone concentration, and milk yield. The 1st wk of each 3-wk treatment period was for adjustment and the next 2 wk were comparison periods. Least squares means for DM intake as a percentage of body weight were 3.68 and 3.57 for 10.6 and 27.0°C treatment groups. Water intakes in liters per kilogram of dry feed consumed as a percentage of body weight were 21.3 and 20.3. Respiration rates were 70.5 and 81.0 breaths per minute; rectal temperatures were 39.7 and 39.9°C, Triiodothyronine averaged .88 and .75ng/ml; thyroxine. 42.4 and 39.2ng/ml; cortisol, 3.03 and 2.06ng/ml; and progesterone in milk, 4.58 and 3.15ng/ml for the 10.6 and 27.0°C treatment groups. Milk yield averaged 25.9 and 24.7 kg/d and FCM averaged 25.6 and 23.6 kg/d, respectively. In Experiment 2, 24 cows given a choice of chilled or warm water showed a clear preference (about 98%) for the warm water. If cows are given chilled water of 10°C continuously, no warm drinking water should be available. Chilled drinking water lowered respiration rates and body temperatures and increased feed intake and milk yield.