Are Swedish cows cool enough?
Project overview
Participants
More related research
Global goals
- 1. No poverty
- 2. Zero hunger
- 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- 12. Responsible consumption and production
Short summary
Heat stress in dairy cows affects health, fertility and production – as shown in studies from warmer countries. But we lack knowledge from countries with a temperate climate and there’s need for support and guidance about decisions on, and use of, different types of cooling in Swedish conditions.
Short project description
The purpose is to evaluate cooling methods for dairy cows in a Swedish context and suggest science-based recommendations for animal welfare and fertility, and for effective milk production. The project is being carried out as a PhD project funded by the Seydlitz MP Bolagen Foundation.
Plan and goal
The project includes compilation of existing literature, large-scale observational studies and interviews with farmers, as well as experimental studies in the dairy barn at the Swedish Livestock Research Centre at SLU to gain knowledge about different cooling methods (fans and water-based systems) for dairy cows under Swedish conditions. The goal is to ensure a resilient and sustainable Swedish dairy production in a changing climate.
Research group
The project is multidisciplinary and includes expertise in animal health and preventive animal health care, reproduction, epidemiology, digital monitoring of health and welfare, as well as qualitative methods to capture attitudes, barriers, and knowledge gaps within this field.
The reference group consists of a broad group of national and international experts from RISE, the Knowledge Hub for Animal Production, Växa Sverige, the University of Florida, DeLaval, LRF Mjölk, and Landshypotek Bank.
