Effect of different cooling systems on concentrations of certain hormones and free fatty acids at varying times during lactation of Holstein cows.

Abstract

In experiment 1, fourteen cows were blocked for milk yields and balanced for days in lactation. Treatments were: (1) Air conditioning (AC), five cows; (2) Evaporative cooling (EC), four cows; and (3) Conventional shade (S), five cows. Sequential samples were taken for 8 h at 12 min intervals starting at 2200 and then at hourly intervals for 13 h. Serum was assayed for insulin, thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and cortisol using a double-antibody radioimmunoassay procedure. Free fatty acids (FFA) were determined in serum by an enzymatic method. In experiment 2, ten cows were blocked for milk yields and days in lactation. Treatments were: (1) Evaporative cooling (EC), five cows; and (2) conventional shade (S), five cows. Blood was drawn at 60 and 90 d of lactation. Blood sampling, hormone and FFA assays were carried out as in experiment 1. Sequential samples were taken for 8 h at 12 min intervals starting at 2300 and then at hourly intervals from 1030 to 1830. In experiment 1, insulin was depressed (P <.05) treatment effects for T3 in either experiment. There were significant treatment differences (P <.05) in respiration rates and body temperatures in experiment 1. Shade were higher than AC or EC cows. These studies demonstrated that summer heat stress depressed insulin and increased FFA with variable effects on T4 and cortisol but no effect on T3.