Owl Farm case study - Heat stress management

This page describes how Owl Farm helps its herd cope with hot, humid Waikato summers. It explains why cows above about 20-21C start using more energy to stay cool, and what happens once their body temperature climbs past 39.3C, including panting, drooling and falling milk production.

The farm groups its response into three areas: blocking heat from the sun with shade and reflective surfaces, easing the internal heat load through water access and shifting feeding times, and actively cooling cows with yard sprinklers and fans. Recent steps include planting 88 shade trees, upgrading trough flow rates, adjusting milking times, and tracking Temperature Humidity Index data to trigger the sprinklers, which the farm says was needed on more than 100 days in a single summer.