Considering the tropical climate of Indian subcontinent, the summer stress is a major problem in managing dairy animals in India. During the extreme hot humid or hot dry weather, thermoregulatory capability of animals to dissipate heat by sweating and panting is compromised and Summer/heat stress occurs. Severe heat stress can further lead to rise in body temperature, increased pulse rate, increased peripheral blood flow, reduced feed intake, and increased water intake. All the changes associated with heat stress lead to loss of productivity, reduced breeding efficiency and even loss of life in extreme cases. Every year, loss in milk production due to heat stress causes huge financial loss in our country. Though indigenous breeds of cattle are more thermo-tolerant, crossbred and exotic breeds of cattle are highly sensitive to heat stress. Buffaloes are more prone to this owing to their black skin that absorbs more solar radiations and fewer sweat glands (only 1/6th that of cattle), compromising heat dissipation through evaporative heat loss. Heat stress can be alleviated through housing management, making provision of cooling devices and nutritional management.
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