Housing Strategies for Amelioration of Thermal Stress in Dairy Animals

摘要

Climate change poses tremendous challenge to growth of livestock sector in India. The vulnerability of livestock species to the changing climatic conditions is well established. Their performance and survival is negatively affected by the intensity and duration of exposure to extreme climatic conditions. India stands first for milk production in the world and presently producing 187.7 million tons (NDDB, 2020). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimated that Earth's temperature rising by 0.2°C per decade and global warming is expected to reach 4.1°C - 4.8°C above pre-industrial by the end of the century with increased humidity resulting from climate change, which is likely to intensify heat stress in dairy animals that affectmilk yield and their growth performance (Patil et al, 2014). Housing and management technologies play a crucial role in minimizing the climatic impacts on livestock but the judicial use of such technologies is essential for sustainability and productivity (Hahn, 1981). In India, sufficient attention is not paid to protect animals from thermal stfess and this culminates into production losses. Across the country, various types of animal houses/shelters are constructed using locally available eco-friendlymaterials, but no specific care has been given for design and often plans are faulty (Kumar et al, 2018). High producing dairy animals being more vulnerable requires greater care and protection compared to low producers. Additionally, problems related with the cost of housing, ventilations, limited resources, hygiene, manifestation of diseases, behavioral concerns also exists (Silinkove et al, 2015). To overcome these issues, management involvement in respect of various housing components and installation of heat reducing cooling systems are essential. A holistic approach is required in shelter management of dairy animals with regard to the present climatic changing scenario under different agro climatic regions of India. In this paper emphasis are made to describe the different types of housing required under different agro climatic zones of India and to reduce the heat stress on animals.