Effect of microclimatological changes on dairy cattle production under the coastal climate of Goa

Abstract

It was observed that in Deoni and Cross bred cow daily change of relative humidity, maximum temperature and minimum temperatures had significant (P < 0.01) effect on daily milk yield of cow. It was inferred that the effect was more pronounced on cross bred cows than that of Deoni and Sahiwal cows. Between the two indigenous cows effect of micro climatological changes was more pronounced on Deoni breed than Sahiwal breed of cow. It was also observed that overall daily milk yield was reduced by 1 g (P > 0.05), 6 g (P > 0.05), 22 g (P > 0.05) and 78 g (P < 0.01) per unit increase of air temperature, relative humidity, temperature humidity index and maximum temperature respectively while data were analyzed as a whole considering all the cows of all the breeds together. Economic losses resulting from temperature-induced reductions in production may justify mitigation of these temperature increases through changes in management practices such as installation of sprinklers in sheds, evaporative cooling of barns, feeding and nutritional strategies, and/or selection of more heattolerant animals. So, risk management, by considering perceived thermal challenges, then assessing the potential consequences and acting accordingly, will reduce the impact of such challenges.