Israeli Dairy Farmers Use Cooling Systems to Combat Heat Stress in Cows

Dairy farmers in Israel's Arava region are implementing advanced cooling technologies to help cows cope with extreme heat. These systems combine misting nozzles that spray fine water droplets and large fans to wet and cool the cows continuously in shaded barns and holding yards. In the milking waiting areas, cows receive periodic 20-second water showers every four minutes alongside constant ventilation.

Anat Avigad, manager of the Idan dairy farm in Central Arava with about 350 milking cows, explains that Israeli cows, genetically derived from European breeds, are sensitive to heat due to their high milk production. Heat stress reduces their appetite, leading to lower milk yields. To mitigate this, the farm has expanded shaded resting areas and intensified the use of wetting and ventilation systems.

Additionally, the farm adjusts cow feed by adding water to make it easier to chew and digest, encouraging better intake during hot days. They also bind dry concentrated feed to roughage to prevent cows from selectively eating only the concentrated parts, a behavior linked to heat-induced appetite loss.

Despite these measures significantly improving cow welfare and reducing heat stress, the summer heat still causes a notable drop in milk production. At Idan farm, average milk yield per cow has fallen from 37 liters to about 30 liters daily, a decrease of approximately 20%.