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Abstract
The integrated crop-livestock-forestry system has been an option in tropics to mitigate the effects of heat stress on pasture-based system for dairy cows. We evaluate the effects of shade arrangements in integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems on physiological and behavioral responses of crossbred dairy heifers. Twenty-four crossbred European-Zebu heifers with 330.0±36.7 kg of body weight were assigned in three treatments: no shade, partial shade or total shade. Air temperature (34.4°C), black globe temperature (41.6°C), temperature humidity index (84) and heat load index (98) were higher (P<0.05) for the No shade treatment. Higher values of respiratory rate (99 mov.min-1) and skin temperature (38.1°C) were also found for the no shade treatment. Shade availability affected the grazing time (U = 246.5, P<0.05). Heifers spent 10% more time in pasture on shade treatments. No difference was found on time spent in rumination, drinking or walking on shade treatments. Shade provision was an efficient strategy to reduce respiratory rate and skin temperature as well as to increase grazing time in integrated crop-livestock-forestry system. Key words: Cattle, Eucalyptus, heat stress, integrated farming, pasture, shade.
Highlights
The integrated crop-livestock-forestry system has been an option in tropics to mitigate the effects of heat stress on pasture-based system for dairy cows
We evaluate the effects of shade arrangements in integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems on physiological and behavioral responses of crossbred dairy heifers
The integration of pastures with tree species in livestockforestry systems (ICLF) has been an option to overcome the effects of thermal stress in tropics (Salton et al, 2014; Ainsworth et al, 2012)
Summary
The integration of pastures with tree species in livestockforestry systems (ICLF) has been an option to overcome the effects of thermal stress in tropics (Salton et al, 2014; Ainsworth et al, 2012). Heat stress affects the animal physiology and behavior and compromises their welfare (West, 2003; Schütz et al, 2010). Shade provision by tree species protects animals against solar radiation and produces an environment with. Ferreira et al (2014) evaluated the shade availability in the paddock on physiological and behavioral response of crossbreed dairy cattle. Dairy cows spent around 57% of their time under the shade and the absence of shade on pasture caused heat stress. Treatment with insufficient shade helps to reduce stress at an intermediate level. These results show that shade should be available for all cows at the same time, as previously reported by Schütz et al (2010)
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