Lallemand releases webtool that predicts heat stress-related losses for ruminant animals

Heat stress causes important losses for dairy and beef performance which translates to annual losses of $897 million or more each year, even with adequate heat abatement practices implemented on operations (Reported in US dollars, Saint Pierre et al. 2003). The negative effects of heat stress on dairy cow production are well described thanks to widely accepted equations (Burgos & Collier, 2011), but to a lesser extent when it comes to other ruminants or different farming systems. 

Based on an in-depth scientific review that represents different feeding and management styles all around the world, Lallemand Animal Nutrition has developed a tool to predict the negative impact that heat stress has on milk yield and milk quality for dairy cows, milk yield for dairy sheep and goats and growth for beef cattle. This webtool is now available as an interactive world map, so farmers and farm advisors have the decisions-making tools available at their fingertips and to adjust preventive programs before the summer season hits. 

Farm managers and technicians can now predict potential heat stress-related production losses on Lallemand's website, HERE.

Beat the heat this summer by participating in the 'Get Heat Stress Under Control' challenge on Lallemand's heat stress prediction webtool. Full contest details and prize offerings, like a private consultative meeting with dairy or beef experts, temperature and humidity connected sensor and others can be found here.

About the Lallemand heat stress prediction tool 
Ruminant experts at Lallemand Animal Nutrition have designed a new prediction tool based on multiple equations in order to have a comprehensive view under different global farming conditions and supportive of beef cattle and small ruminants. The new prediction tool is based on:

• Recordings of temperature and humidity in several strategic regions for ruminant production. Temperature and humidity are keys to measure the environmental impact on animal performance, which is reported as the temperature and humidity index (THI). It is important to remember that the impact of stress is linked to the THI level and to the duration of exposure, both in terms of the number of hours per day and the number of consecutive days exposed to heat stress.
• Consolidation of multiple published analyses (7 publications in dairy cows), with experiences in different continents to better predict specific regional losses, including dairy ewes and goats.

For more information visit the Lallemand website, HERE. 

The Global Miller
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