Predicted versus Measured Production Differences Using Summer Air Conditioning for Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract

Predicted summer production losses were made for Holstein cows in three widely separated locations in the United States where field investigations of air conditioning for dairy barns have been completed. These losses, based on a functional relationship developed from Missouri Climatic Laboratory data and local climatological data, were compared to the measured losses at each location. Correlation of losses for Holstein cows varied from excellent in northern Ohio to good in southern Louisiana and central Missouri. Variations due to hotter- or cooler-than-normal summer seasons and level of production were reasonable at all locations. Establishment of the strong link between laboratory production data and commercial herd production enables projection of expected production losses for cows in any area having adequate climatological records. Predicted losses, in turn, allow economic evaluation of environmental control or modification alternatives. © 1969, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.