Nutrition Resources for Dairy Cattle

Heat Stress Biology: Practical Management and Nutritional Strategies

There are a variety of situations in an animal's life when nutrient utilization is re-prioritized from productive towards agriculturally unproductive purposes. Two well-known examples that markedly reduce production are heat stress and ketosis. Decreased feed intake, experienced during both diseases, is unable to fully explain decreases in productivity. Additionally, both diseases are characterized by negative energy balance, body weight loss, inflammation and hepatic steatosis. While the metabolism of ketosis and heat stress have been thoroughly studied for the last 40 years, the initial insult in the cascade of events ultimately reducing productivity in both heat stressed and ketotic cows has not been identified. The focus of the presentation is to review practical management strategies that can be used to help mitigate the impact of heat stress.

Effects of Heat Stress on Gut Health and Immune System Nutrient Requirements

Heat stress and ketosis reduce efficiency. Decreased feed intake experienced during both situations is unable to fully explain the suboptimal productivity. Heat stress and ketosis affect herds of all sizes and almost every dairy region of the U.S. Dr. Baumgard hypothesizes the common etiological origin of both metabolic disorders as "leaky gut." Leaky gut and the resulting endotoxin infiltration alter nutrient partitioning and is a causative agent in metabolic disruption during heat stress and ketosis. Identifying dietary approaches that can improve gut barrier dysfunction is paramount in developing nutritional strategies aimed at improving intestinal health.

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