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Summer Management
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Constant exposure to high ambient temperature causes a rise in rectal temperature, a decline in feed intake, an increase in water intake, a decrease
in milk production, changes in milk compositions, reduction in growth rate and even loss of body weight and lowered fertility.
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The following factors are important in managing the animals during summer.
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- Ensure that the animals are kept under shades. The most effective source of shade is trees. If shade trees are not available, thatched roof of a minimum height of 9 feet should be provided. Agri-nets with 20% perforation are also useful. If facilities are not available with the individual farmers, facilities available at the village shall be used by the community.
- Thatching the roof with materials like paddy straw etc, painting the roof with white paint or, providing a false ceiling insulation will help provide a cooler environment.
- Create barriers against hot wind using thatched wall or wet gunny cloth/ gunny bags.
- Ensure one ventilator of 3 x 1 feet per cow in covered shed. In these sheds heavy duty fan is best option to facilitate ventilation.
- Misting/Fogging of water in the microenvironment of the animal at least thrice in an hour along with provision of fan is useful in hot dry weather. Auto Mister/ Fugger with mini pumps and cyclic timers are preferable.
- Summer stress can also be managed by spraying/ sprinkling water directly on the body of animals for a period of 1 to 5 minutes at an interval of 10- 30 minutes. Fans/ blowers should be used to induce evaporation from the skin of animals. With a provision of fan this method can work both in hot dry and hot humid condition.
- The most effective way of combating heat stress in buffalo is wallowing in the water pond.
- Ensure adequate round the clock drinking water to animals, which should be provided under shade.
- Feeding should be practiced during early morning, evening &night.
- Prefer grazing during early morning & late evening hours to avoid the scorching heat.
- Ration density may be increased so as to provide same nutrients at reduced dry matter intake. Diets with low-fibre and high fermentable carbohydrate have lower dietary heat increment compared to high fibre diets.
- Ensure increased mineral supplementation during hot weather to meet the increased demand of minerals. Potassium rich mineral mixture should be preferred.
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