What is heat stress in dairy cows?
Heat stress is a major challenge for dairy farmers, especially with the increase in episodes of intense heat. It occurs when ambient temperature and humidity exceed cows’ natural ability to regulate their body temperature.
Result: their well-being, health, and production performance are directly impacted.
Understanding heat stress
Unlike humans, cows sweat very little. Their bodies struggle to dissipate excess heat.
Thus, when the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) exceeds certain thresholds:
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Breathing rate increases,
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Rumination decreases,
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Feed intake drops,
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Milk yield declines.
Over the long term, heat stress can also affect reproduction and increase the risk of metabolic diseases.
Consequences for farmers
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Milk production loss: up to –20% during heatwaves.
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Milk quality deterioration: decrease in TB, TP rates.
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Weakened animal health: more lameness, acidosis risks, reduced immunity.
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Direct economic impact: less milk, higher veterinary costs, reduced profitability.
How does Valomilk help fight heat stress?
The Valomilk platform is designed to provide farmers with a clear and continuous vision of their herd’s environment.
Linked to sensors placed in barns, it collects essential real-time data (temperature, humidity, air flow), then automatically calculates the THI.
As soon as a critical threshold is reached, intelligent alerts notify the farmer so they can act quickly.
Valomilk does not stop at simply reporting information: it analyzes the data and provides an in-depth interpretation of farming conditions.
Thanks to its multiple indicators and dynamic dashboards, the farmer can track the evolution of heat stress hour by hour, compare different barns or sites, and understand the trends that directly affect production.
This analytical approach transforms raw data into real decision-making tools.
The strength of the platform also lies in support. The collected data are combined with the expertise of dairy advisors who provide tailored recommendations: improving ventilation, adjusting feed, or adapting practices during sensitive periods such as calving or drying-off.
The farmer is no longer left alone with the numbers: they benefit from reliable technical support to anticipate and limit the effects of heat stress.
Finally, all the information is stored and secured, creating a unique digital heritage for the farm.
The farmer can showcase best practices, highlight their commitment to animal welfare, and provide objective traceability to partners, cooperatives, or veterinarians.
Valomilk then becomes more than just a monitoring platform: it is a real lever to preserve farm profitability and establish lasting trust throughout the value chain.
The benefits for your farm
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Improved animal welfare: calmer cows, better living conditions.
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Optimization of dairy performance: maintaining volumes and quality, even during periods of heat.
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Reduction of economic losses linked to heat stress.
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Easy management: access to clear, synthetic, and available data everywhere.
Heat stress: a challenge for today and tomorrow
With climate change, heat waves are expected to intensify. Anticipating and taking action is becoming a necessity.
Thanks to the Valomilk platform, farmers have a key tool at their disposal:
Monitor, Anticipate, Act effectively.
