A trial was conducted during the summerof 2000 to evaluate the effect of freestallbuilding orientation—east-west vs. northsouth—on respiration rates of lactating dairycows, temperature-humidity index (THI) inthe barns, barn temperature, and barn humidity.Differences between ambient andbarn temperature and THI were higher ineast-west vs. north-south orientated barns.Respiration rates were higher in north-souththan in east-west orientated structures. Themagnitude of differences between barn andambient temperatures and THI did not fullyexplain differences in respiration rates betweennorth-south and east-west orientatedbarns. Other factors such as solar radiation,airflow, and animal stress may have contributedto the differences in respiration rates.
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