Document type Cniel : news item on a technical file published by Cniel and IdeleIdele
Authors: Bertrand Fagoo , Dominique Lagel, Pierrick Eouzan, Tanguy Morel, Florence Fargier,
Jean Charef
Preview : Global temperature rises and more frequent periods of extreme heat are affecting the comfort of dairy herds. To adapt to weather conditions that will produce increasing stress in animals, we have to change our fields and buildings, as well as our practices.
Temperature is not the only climatic variable to affect the comfort of dairy cows. Other factors such as air-moisture content, wind speed and solar radiation strongly influence on thermal comfort. Solar radiation is beneficial in winter, contributing to the welfare of the animals (luminosity) and drying out buildings. But, in hot weather, it significantly increases the temperatures experienced by an animal out at pasture with no access to shade, or shut in an overheated building. This document, whose production was funded by the CNIEL under the "Bâti'Lait Mieux" program, contains information that will help its readers understand the effects of solar radiation, and explore ways to reduce them.
