Thermotolerance indicators related to production and physiological responses to heat stress of holstein cows

Heat stress; Heat-tolerance; Holstein cattle; Individual responses; Physiological trait; Production trait; Article; Tunisia; Animals; Cattle; Female; Heat Stress Disorders; Heat-Shock Response; Humidity; Lactation; Milk; Thermotolerance

Abstract :

[en] Heat stress (HS) adversely influences dairy cattle welfare and productivity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of HS on production and physiological parameters of Holstein cows. Two experiments each lasted 6 weeks were conducted in four Tunisian farms, firstly during summer under HS (n = 80, THI = 77) and later during autumn under thermo-neutral (n = 80, THI = 54) conditions. Respiration rate (RR), skin temperature (ST), rectal temperature (RT) and milk yield were measured, and milk samples were collected on 2 days every week during each experimental period. Temperature and relative humidity were measured inside the barn to calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI). Mixed models were used to evaluate the effects of period and the relationships between THI and physiological and production traits. Reaction norm models were applied to quantify the individual responses of cows across the trajectory of THI during the HS period. A clustering methodology was developed to identify tolerant and sensitive cows to HS based on their slope for response of physiological and production traits during HS period. In summer, RR (61 breaths/min) and ST (37.7 °C) were 2.3- and 1.3-fold higher, whereas milk yield per milking was 24% lower compared with thermo-neutral conditions. Linear relationship between THI and RR, ST and RT was observed and showed increases by 2 breaths/min, 0.5 °C and 0.04 °C per increase in one THI unit, respectively. Inversely, milk, fat and protein yields showed a drop of 0.13 kg, 0.4 g and 0.3 g per milking per increase in one THI unit, respectively. Cows qualified to be heat tolerant by our work tended to have higher RR, ST, and RT and lower to almost no decay in milk yield compared to cows qualified to be heat sensitive. Specifically, RR could be used as a reliable indicator for thermotolerance. The results of this study deepen our understanding of different aspects of HS resilience. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Disciplines :

Animal production & animal husbandry

Author, co-author :

Amamou, Hajer ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Terra

Beckers, Yves ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Ingénierie des productions animales et nutrition

Mahouachi, M.; High School of Agriculture of Kef, University of Jendouba, Le Kef, 7119, Tunisia

Hammami, Hedi ; AgroBioChem, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, Gembloux, 5030, Belgium

Language :

English

Title :

Thermotolerance indicators related to production and physiological responses to heat stress of holstein cows

Publication date :

2019

Journal title :

Journal of Thermal Biology

ISSN :

0306-4565

Publisher :

Elsevier Ltd

Volume :

Pages :

90-98

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

MHESR - Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique

Available on ORBi :

since 13 March 2020

Statistics

Number of views

97 (12 by ULiège)

Number of downloads

7 (6 by ULiège)

More statistics

Scopus citations^®

Scopus citations^®
without self-citations

OpenCitations

OpenAlex citations

Bibliography

Aguilar, I., Misztal, I., Tsuruta, S., Genetic trends of milk yield under heat stress for US Holsteins. J. Dairy Sci. 93 (2010), 1754–1758 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2756.
Al-Kanaan, Heat Stress Response for Physiological Traits in Dairy and Dual Purpose Cattle Populations on Phenotypic and Genetic Scales. PhD thesis, 2016, Faculty of Organic Agriculture, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany https://d-nb.info/1093437901/34.
Ali, T.E., Schaeffer, L.R., Accounting for covariances among test day milk yields in dairy cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 67 (1987), 637–644 https://doi.org/10.4141/cjas87-067.
Amamou, H., Sassi, M. Ben, Aouadi, H., Khemiri, H., Mahouachi, M., Beckers, Y., Hammami, H., Climate change-related risks and adaptation strategies as perceived in dairy cattle farming systems in Tunisia. Clim. Risk Manag. 20 (2018), 38–49 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2018.03.004.
Armstrong, D.V., Heat stress interaction with shade and cooling. J. Dairy Sci. 77 (1994), 2044–2050 https://doi.org/10.3168/JDS.S0022-0302(94)77149-6.
Baumgard, L.H., Rhoads, R.P., Rhoads, M.L., Gabler, N.K., Ross, J.W., Keating, A.F., Boddicker, R.L., Lenka, S., Sejian, V., Impact of climate change on livestock production. Environmental Stress and Amelioration in Livestock Production, 2012, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 413–468 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29205-7_15.
Bernabucci, U., Biffani, S., Buggiotti, L., Vitali, A., Lacetera, N., Nardone, A., The effects of heat stress in Italian Holstein dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 97 (2014), 471–486 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2013-6611.
Blackshaw, J.K., Blackshaw, A.W., Heat stress in cattle and the effect of shade on production and behaviour: a review. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. 34 (1994), 285–295 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9940285.
Bohlouli, M., Shodja, J., Alijani, S., Eghbal, A., The relationship between temperature-humidity index and test-day milk yield of Iranian Holstein dairy cattle using random regression model. Livest. Sci. 157 (2013), 414–420 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.LIVSCI.2013.09.005.
Bohmanova, J., Misztal, I., Cole, J.B., Temperature-humidity indices as indicators of milk production losses due to heat stress. J. Dairy Sci. 90 (2007), 1947–1956 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2006-513.
Bouraoui, R., Lahmar, M., Majdoub, A., Djemali, M., Belyea, R., The relationship of temperature-humidity index with milk production of dairy cows in a Mediterranean climate. Anim. Res. 51 (2002), 479–491 https://doi.org/10.1051/animres:2002036.
Brügemann, K., Gernand, E., von Borstel, U.U., König, S., Genetic analyses of protein yield in dairy cows applying random regression models with time-dependent and temperature x humidity-dependent covariates. J. Dairy Sci. 94 (2011), 4129–4139 https://doi.org/10.3168/JDS.2010-4063.
Carabano, M.-J., Logar, B., Bormann, J., Minet, J., Vanrobays, M.-L., Díaz, C., Tychon, B., Gengler, N., Hammami, H., Modeling heat stress under different environmental conditions. J. Dairy Sci. 99 (2016), 3798–3814 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-10212.
Carabaño, M.J., Bachagha, K., Ramón, M., Díaz, C., Modeling heat stress effect on Holstein cows under hot and dry conditions: selection tools. J. Dairy Sci. 97 (2014), 7889–7904 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-8023.
Collier, R.J., Dahl, G.E., VanBaale, M.J., Major advances associated with environmental effects on dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 89 (2006), 1244–1253 https://doi.org/10.3168/JDS.S0022-0302(06)72193-2.
Collier, R.J., Hall, L.W., Rungruang, S., Zimbleman, R.B., Quantifying heat stress and its impact on metabolism and performance. 23rd Annual Ruminant Nutrition Symposium. Florida, 2012 http://dairy.ifas.ufl.edu/rns/2012/6CollierRNS2012a.pdf.
Cwynar, P., Kolacz, R., Czerski, A., Effect of heat stress on physiological parameters and blood composition in Polish Merino rams. Berl. Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschr. 127 (2014), 177–182 https://doi.org/10.2376/0005-9366-127-177.
Dalcin, V.C., Fischer, V., Daltro, D. dos S., Alfonzo, E.P.M., Stumpf, M.T., Kolling, G.J., Silva, M.V.G.B. da, McManus, C., Physiological parameters for thermal stress in dairy cattle. Rev. Bras. Zootec. 45 (2016), 458–465 https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-92902016000800006.
Dangi, S.S., Gupta, M., Nagar, V., Yadav, V.P., Dangi, S.K., Shankar, O., Chouhan, V.S., Kumar, P., Singh, G., Sarkar, M., Impact of short-term heat stress on physiological responses and expression profile of HSPs in Barbari goats. Int. J. Biometeorol. 58 (2014), 2085–2093 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-014-0809-5.
de Andrade Ferrazza, R., Mogollón Garcia, H.D., Vallejo Aristizábal, V.H., de Souza Nogueira, C., Veríssimo, C.J., Sartori, J.R., Sartori, R., Pinheiro Ferreira, J.C., Thermoregulatory responses of Holstein cows exposed to experimentally induced heat stress. J. Therm. Biol. 66 (2017), 68–80 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JTHERBIO.2017.03.014.
Dedieu, B., Ingrand, S., Incertitude et adaptation: cadres théoriques et application à l'analyse de la dynamique des systèmes d’élevage. INRA Prod. Anim. 23 (2010), 81–90.
Du, J.H.P., Giesecke, W.H., Hattingh, P.J., Heat stress in dairy cattle and other livestock under southern African conditions. I. Temperature-humidity index mean values during the four main seasons. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 57 (1990), 77–87.
Forsman, A., Rethinking phenotypic plasticity and its consequences for individuals, populations and species. Heredity (Edinb) 115 (2015), 276–284 https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2014.92.
Gaughan, J., Lacetera, N., Valtorta, S.E., Khalifa, H.H., Hahn, L., Mader, T., Ebi, K.L., Burton, I., McGregor, G.R., (eds.) Response of Domestic Animals to Climate Challenges BT - Biometeorology for Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change, 2009, Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht, 131–170 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8921-3_7.
Gaughan, J.B., Holt, S., Hahn, G.L., Mader, T.L., Eigenberg, R., Respiration rate: is it a good measure of heat stress in cattle?. Asian-Australas. J. Anim. Sci. 13 (2000), 329–332 http://www.asap.asn.au/livestocklibrary/2000/Gaughan_0275.pdf.
GIVLait, Présentation de la filière lait. 2018 [WWW Document] http://www.givlait.com.tn/presentation-de-la-filiere-lait.html. (Accessed 31 October 2018)
GIZ, Elaboration de la “Stratégie Nationale sur le Changement Climatique” de la Tunisie. Rapport de diagnostic. 2011 (Version finale) http://www.environnement.gov.tn/fileadmin/medias/pdfs/dgeqv/chang_climatique_2.pdf.
Hammami, H., Rekik, B., Bastin, C., Soyeurt, H., Bormann, J., Stoll, J., Gengler, N., Environmental sensitivity for milk yield in Luxembourg and Tunisian Holsteins by herd management level. J. Dairy Sci. 92 (2009), 4604–4612 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2008-1513.
Hammami, H., Vandenplas, J., Vanrobays, M.-L., Rekik, B., Bastin, C., Gengler, N., Genetic analysis of heat stress effects on yield traits, udder health, and fatty acids of Walloon Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 98 (2015), 4956–4968 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-9148.
Hill, D.L., Wall, E., Weather influences feed intake and feed efficiency in a temperate climate. J. Dairy Sci. 100 (2017), 2240–2257 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11047.
Horowitz, M., From molecular and cellular to integrative heat defense during exposure to chronic heat. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part A Mol. Integr. Physiol. 131 (2002), 475–483 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1095-6433(01)00500-1.
Johnson, J.S., Scharf, B., Weaber, R.L., Eichen, P.A., Spiers, D.E., Patterns of heat response and adaptation on summer pasture: a comparison of heat-sensitive (Angus) and -tolerant (Romosinuano) cattle. J. Therm. Biol. 37 (2012), 344–350 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2011.10.014.
Kadzere, C.T., Murphy, M.R., Silanikove, N., Maltz, E., Heat stress in lactating dairy cows: a review. Livest. Prod. Sci. 77 (2002), 59–91 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(01)00330-X.
Kanca, H., Milk production and composition in ruminants under heat stress. Nutr. Dairy their Implic. Heal. Dis., 2017, 97–109 https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809762-5.00008-5.
Kibler, H.H., Brody, S., Environmental physiology with special reference to domestic animals. XXVII, Influence of Wind on Heat Exchange and Body Temperature Regulation in Jersey, Holstein, Brown Swiss, and Brahman Cattle, 1954, University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/75907373.pdf.
Knapp, D.M., Grummer, R.R., Response of lactating dairy cows to fat supplementation during heat stress. J. Dairy Sci. 74 (1991), 2573–2579 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78435-X.
Koltes, J.E., Koltes, D.A., Mote, B.E., Tucker, J., Hubbell, D.S., Automated collection of heat stress data in livestock: new technologies and opportunities. Transl. Anim. Sci. 2 (2018), 319–323 https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txy061.
Lenis Sanin, Y., Zuluaga Cabrera, A.M., Tarazona Morales, A.M., Adaptive responses to thermal stress in mammals. Rev. Med. Vet. (Bogota)., 2016, 121–135.
Liu, Z., Ezernieks, V., Wang, J., Arachchillage, N.W., Garner, J.B., Wales, W.J., Cocks, B.G., Rochfort, S., Heat stress in dairy cattle alters lipid composition of milk. Sci. Rep., 7, 2017, 961 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01120-9.
Magalhães, F.C., Passos, R.L.F., Fonseca, M.A., Oliveira, K.P.M., Ferreira-Júnior, J.B., Martini, A.R.P., Lima, M.R.M., Guimarães, J.B., Baraúna, V.G., Silami-Garcia, E., Thermoregulatory efficiency is increased after heat acclimation in tropical natives. J. Physiol. Anthropol. 29 (2010), 1–12 https://doi.org/10.2114/jpa2.29.1.
Maróti-Agóts, Á., Bodó, I., Jávorka, L., Gyurmán, A., Solymosi, N., Zenke, P., Skogseth, M., Zöldág, L., Possible genetic sign of heat stress adaptation in Hungarian Grey Bos taurus breed. Acta Biol. Hung. 62 (2011), 65–72 https://doi.org/10.1556/ABiol.61.2011.1.6.
Maurya, V.P., Sejian, V., Gupta, M., Dangi, S.S., Kushwaha, A., Singh, G., Sarkar, M., Sejian, V., Gaughan, J., Baumgard, L., Prasad, C., (eds.) Adaptive Mechanisms of Livestock to Changing Climate BT - Climate Change Impact on Livestock: Adaptation and Mitigation, 2015, Springer India, New Delhi, 123–138 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2265-1_9.
McDowell, R.E., Physiological approaches to animal climatology. J. Hered. 49 (1958), 52–61 https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a106766.
McDowell, R.E., Hooven, N.W., Camoens, J.K., Effect of climate on performance of Holsteins in first lactation. J. Dairy Sci. 59 (1976), 965–971 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(76)84305-6.
Nardone, A., Ronchi, B., Lacetera, N., Ranieri, M.S., Bernabucci, U., Effects of climate changes on animal production and sustainability of livestock systems. Livest. Sci. 130 (2010), 57–69 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2010.02.011.
Nasr, M.A.F., El-Tarabany, M.S., Impact of three THI levels on somatic cell count, milk yield and composition of multiparous Holstein cows in a subtropical region. J. Therm. Biol. 64 (2017), 73–77 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JTHERBIO.2017.01.004.
Nguyen, T.T.T., Bowman, P.J., Haile-Mariam, M., Nieuwhof, G.J., Hayes, B.J., Pryce, J.E., Short communication: implementation of a breeding value for heat tolerance in Australian dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 100 (2017), 7362–7367 https://doi.org/10.3168/JDS.2017-12898.
NRC, A Guide to Environmental Research on Animals. 1971, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
Polsky, L., von Keyserlingk, M.A.G., Invited review: effects of heat stress on dairy cattle welfare. J. Dairy Sci. 100 (2017), 8645–8657 https://doi.org/10.3168/JDS.2017-12651.
Ravagnolo, O., Misztal, I., Hoogenboom, G., Genetic component of heat stress in dairy cattle, development of heat index function. J. Dairy Sci. 83 (2000), 2120–2125 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(00)75094-6.
Salem, M., Bouraoui, R., Heat Stress in Tunisia: effects on dairy cows and potential means. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 39 (2009), 256–259 https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v39i1.61164.
Santana, M.L., Bignardi, A.B., Pereira, R.J., Menéndez-Buxadera, A., El Faro, L., Random regression models to account for the effect of genotype by environment interaction due to heat stress on the milk yield of Holstein cows under tropical conditions. J. Appl. Genet. 57 (2016), 119–127 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-015-0301-x.
Scharf, B., Johnson, J.S., Weaber, R.L., Spiers, D.E., Utilizing laboratory and field studies to determine physiological responses of cattle to multiple environmental stressors. J. Therm. Biol. 37 (2012), 330–338 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2011.10.002.
Scholtz, M.M., McManus, C., Okeyo, A.M., Theunissen, A., Opportunities for beef production in developing countries of the southern hemisphere. Livest. Sci. 142 (2011), 195–202 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2011.07.014.
Spiers, D.E., Spain, J.N., Sampson, J.D., Rhoads, R.P., Use of physiological parameters to predict milk yield and feed intake in heat-stressed dairy cows. J. Therm. Biol. 29 (2004), 759–764 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2004.08.051.
St-Pierre, N.R., Cobanov, B., Schnitkey, G., Economic losses from heat stress by US livestock industries. J. Dairy Sci. 86 (2003), E52–E77 https://doi.org/10.3168/JDS.S0022-0302(03)74040-5.
Suthar, V., Burfeind, O., Bonk, S., Voigtsberger, R., Keane, C., Heuwieser, W., Factors associated with body temperature of healthy Holstein dairy cows during the first 10 days in milk. J. Dairy Res. 79 (2012), 135–142, 10.1017/S0022029911000896.
Tao, S., Orellana, R.M., Weng, X., Marins, T.N., Dahl, G.E., Bernard, J.K., Symposium review: the influences of heat stress on bovine mammary gland function. J. Dairy Sci. 101 (2018), 5642–5654 https://doi.org/10.3168/JDS.2017-13727.
Vasconcelos, J.L.M., Demetrio, D.G.B., Manejo reprodutivo de vacas sob estresse calórico. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 2011, 396–401.
Wang, X., Bjerg, B.S., Choi, C.Y., Zong, C., Zhang, G., A review and quantitative assessment of cattle-related thermal indices. J. Therm. Biol. 77 (2018), 24–37 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JTHERBIO.2018.08.005.
Wang, X., Gao, H., Gebremedhin, K.G., Bjerg, B.S., Van Os, J., Tucker, C.B., Zhang, G., A predictive model of equivalent temperature index for dairy cattle (ETIC). J. Therm. Biol. 76 (2018), 165–170 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.07.013.
West, J.W., Effects of heat-stress on production in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 86 (2003), 2131–2144 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(03)73803-X.
West, J.W., Nutritional strategies for managing the heat-stressed dairy cow. J. Anim. Sci., 77, 1999, 21 https://doi.org/10.2527/1997.77suppl_221x.
Wheelock, J.B., Rhoads, R.P., VanBaale, M.J., Sanders, S.R., Baumgard, L.H., Effects of heat stress on energetic metabolism in lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 93 (2010), 644–655 https://doi.org/10.3168/JDS.2009-2295.
Yano, M., Shimadzu, H., Endo, T., Modelling temperature effects on milk production: a study on Holstein cows at a Japanese farm. SpringerPlus, 3, 2014, 129 https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-129.
Zimbelman, R.B., Baumgard, L.H., Collier, R.J., Effects of encapsulated niacin on evaporative heat loss and body temperature in moderately heat-stressed lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 93 (2010), 2387–2394 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2557.