Ameliorative measures to counteract environmental stresses

Abstract

The severity of heat stress on livestock production can be measured using certain weather parameters, which summate the intensity of heat stress exposure. Temperature-humidity-index (THI) is widely used to predict the severity of heat stress in domestic livestock. Reducing heat stress in livestock requires multidisciplinary approaches which emphasize animal nutrition, housing, and animal health. It is important to understand the livestock responses to environment, analyze them, in order to design modifications of nutritional and environmental management thereby improving animal comfort and performance. Researchers can attempt a variety of approaches to improve reproduction that involve modifying the environment (i.e., attempting to cool cows during reproduction), modifying the genetics of the animal (i.e., breeding of heat tolerant breeds), or intensifying reproductive management during periods of heat stress. Management alternatives, such as the strategic use of wind protection and bedding in the winter or sprinklers and shade in the summer, need to be considered to help livestock cope with adverse conditions. In addition to these changes, manipulation of diet energy density and intake may also be beneficial for livestock challenged by environmental conditions. Additionally, socio-economical status, technological tools, and financial infrastructure have instrumental roles in modifying environment stress. The ameliorative measures, to be incorporated, are therefore driven by socio-economical and environmental factors. This chapter addresses divergent sheltering methodologies that can be used to minimize the effects of multiple stresses, such as heat, nutritional, and health stress that an animal is exposed to.