Welcome to Oakwood Farm Services
For all your animal health, farm hygiene and pest control needs.
Wide range of animal health, farm hygiene and pest control products always in stock.
Facebook Feed
🌡️ The Hidden Cost of Heat Stress ![]()
Why the Real Problems Often Start Weeks Later...![]()
With the recent warm weather, it's easy to think the danger has passed once temperatures drop. Unfortunately, the effects of heat stress don't end when the cows cool down.![]()
In fact, many dairy herds don't see the biggest health challenges until 2–6 weeks after a heat stress event, when the immune system begins to show the lasting effects.![]()
During periods of heat stress, cows divert energy away from immune function to help regulate body temperature. This leaves them more vulnerable to disease, even after the weather has improved.![]()
![]()
⚠️ Signs to watch for over the coming weeks![]()
• Rising bactoscan or bacterial counts![]()
• Increased mastitis cases (especially environmental mastitis)![]()
• Higher somatic cell counts![]()
• More fresh cow health problems![]()
• Slower recovery from infections![]()
• Reduced feed intake and milk yield![]()
• Poor fertility and lower conception rates![]()
• Increased lameness due to prolonged standing and reduced lying times![]()
![]()
⏳ When should you expect problems?![]()
• Immediately (0–7 days): Reduced milk yield, lower dry matter intake, increased respiration rates and standing behaviour.![]()
• 2–6 weeks later: Immune suppression becomes more apparent, with increases in mastitis, elevated SCC, higher bacterial counts and poorer fertility.![]()
• Several weeks to months later: Cows that experienced heat stress during early pregnancy may continue to show reduced reproductive performance.![]()
![]()
✅ How can you reduce the impact?![]()
✔️ Keep water troughs clean.![]()
✔️ Ensure plenty of access to fresh water.![]()
✔️ Maximise airflow with fans and good shed ventilation.![]()
✔️ Provide shade wherever possible.![]()
✔️ Push up feed regularly and encourage intakes during cooler parts of the day.![]()
✔️ Monitor parlour hygiene closely; immune-challenged cows are less able to fight bacteria entering the udder.![]()
✔️ Review your plant wash routine and check water temperatures, chemical strengths and circulation are all performing correctly.![]()
✔️ Keep cubicles clean and dry to minimise environmental bacterial challenge.![]()
✔️ Monitor bulk tank trends, SCC and mastitis cases closely over the next month, not just during the hot spell.![]()
![]()
The key message is simple: don't relax once the temperature drops. ![]()
The delayed effects of heat stress are often where the biggest production and milk quality losses occur.![]()
Now is the ideal time to review hygiene protocols, monitor milk quality trends and stay one step ahead before small issues become costly problems.![]()
Have you noticed a spike in mastitis, bactoscan or SCC after periods of hot weather? ![]()
We're interested to hear what y#dairyfarminge#heatstress.#MilkQualityr#dairyhygienee#MastitisPreventioni#somaticcellcounti#bactoscann#cowhealthe#dairymanagementa#oakwoodfarmservicesanagement #OakwoodFarmServices