Cargill: Avoid heat stress in cows through feed

Cargill’s animal nutrition business shared new data proving the effectiveness of its customised feeding solutions that help customers manage heat-stressed cows during heat waves. Heat stress generally begins to affect a cow’s performance when the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) reaches 68, and can significantly reduce their appetite, fertility and milk production levels.

Ercole Zerbini, Cargill’s global ruminant technology director said, “Our proprietary feeding solutions, marketed under I.C.E.™ and Cooling Pack™, are tailored to meet customers’ specific needs and the environment in which they operate, help protect cows from heat stress effects at the cellular level”.

“Adding key nutritional ingredients such as an osmolyte can help cows stay hydrated, avoid dramatic increases in overall body temperature, recover faster after high heat and humidity, and improve pregnancy and fertility rates” he added.

Recent trials prove effectiveness

• Commercial farm trials in Texas, U.S., demonstrated an increase in conception rates of 7.1% in multiparous cows (cows that have had more than one calf) and 8.1% in primiparous cows (cows that are calving for the first time).
• A trial in Brazil indicated a 13% increase in fertility rates.
• Another study in Brazil showed better protection against the depression in milk fat concentration often seen when cows are exposed to heat.
• Heat stress is known to bring increased risk of ruminal acidosis. Work at the Cargill Innovation Center in Velddriel, the Netherlands demonstrated improved maintenance of rumen pH.

Cargill’s heat stress feeding solutions, are now available in the US, Brazil, France, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Canada and Peru. For optimal results, Cargill and Provimi brand nutritionists recommend implementing this technology before a heat wave begins.