Effect of Solar Powered Cooling System to Counteract Heat Stress in Stall Fed HF Deoni Crossbred Cows

Abstract

Background: During summer the environmental conditions exceeds beyond threshold limit, that enhances heat gain beyond that lost from the body and induces heat stress in cows. The higher temperature and heat stress increases respiration rate, rectal temperature and temperature humidity index, which affects health of the cows. The objective of the study was to create favourable environmental conditions to reduce heat stress and to improve the performance of the cows. Methods: The solar powered cooling system was developed and installed at Main Agriculture Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur District of Karnataka. The functional components of the developed cooling system are foggers, timer-switch, solar panels, battery, water tank, charge controller and hosepipe. The solar panels act as an energy source for the operation pump and the 4-way fogger assembly provides the fogging of water and creates a healthy environment by reducing the air temperature. The system assessment was carried out with 3 levels of variables of foggers (6, 12 and 18 foggers), height of fogger (2.25, 2.50 and 2.75 m) and operational time interval (2, 4 and 6 min). These were statistically analysed along with air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), and respiration rate (RR) were also measured. Result: The AT, RH and RR was significantly influenced by the treatment combinations of selected variables and it was found that reduction of 9.2 oC in AT and 49 % (29 breaths min-1) in RR and 47 % increase in RH (66 %) were recorded at 18 foggers at 2.75 m height with 4 min operational time interval. Thus, the developed cooling system was significant (P less than 0.001) in creating optimum environmental conditions for the wellbeing of milch animals.