Temperature–humidity index monitoring during two summer seasons in dairy cow sheds in Mugello (Tuscany)

2023/08/01 by Alessandro Messeri, Marco Mancini, Riccardo Bozzi +11

paper · doi:10.1007/s00484-023-02510-7

crossref issued 2023/08/01 · crossref published 2023/08/01 · crossref published-online 2023/08/01 · crossref created 2023/08/01 · crossref published-print 2023/10/01 · crossref deposited 2023/12/18 · crossref indexed 2026/07/30

Abstract

Abstract Many studies have reported that the impact of high temperatures affects physiology, welfare, health, and productivity of farm animals, and among these, the dairy cattle farming is one of the livestock sectors that suffers the greatest effects. The temperature–humidity index (THI) represents the state of the art in the evaluation of heat stress conditions in dairy cattle but often its measurement is not carried out in sheds. For this reason, the aim of this study was the monitoring of the THI in three dairy cattle farms in Mugello (Tuscany) to understand its influence on dairy cows. THI values were calculated using meteorological data from direct observation in sheds and outdoor environments. Data relating to the animal’s behavior were collected using radio collars. The Pearson test and Mann–Kendall test were used for statistical analysis. The results highlighted a significant ( P 72) for livestock. On average the animals showed a significant ( P P

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