Comparing Feed Additives for Heat Stress

Heat in the summer is a given and decreases in milk production and dry matter intake will usually follow. Dairy cattle can begin to experience heat stress when the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) is equal to or greater than 68, which can happen with temperatures in the low 70s with moderate humidity. While you can’t control the weather, you can take several steps to manage heat stress including on-farm practices and heat stress nutritional solutions.

 

Nutritional Solutions for Heat Stress

When considering nutritional solutions for mitigating heat stress there are three major classes of feed additives. These include vasodilators (niacin, capsicum), electrolytes (potassium, sodium), and osmolytes. Though all three provide some alleviation to the effects of heat stress, there are some distinct differences between each.

Let’s break down each class and consider how it works and how it affects your cows.

 

Our Nutritional Recommendation

Add Promote® I.C.E.® PLUS into your feeding strategy during the summer months as well as increasing energy and protein density of the ration to meet requirements when intake is diminished during heat stress. Promote I.C.E PLUS is a proprietary blend of key ingredients that includes an osmolyte.

Promote I.C.E. PLUS should be added to the diet before conditions of heat stress exist and continued through the hot season until nighttime temperatures are consistently below the heat stress threshold.
 

Promote® I.C.E.® PLUS Helps You Lose Less This Summer

• Delivers a 5:1 return on investment
• Cooler body temps may lead to 2 to 4 pounds of milk and increased intake
• Cooler body temps help support reproductive success during and after heat stress
• Cows fed Promote I.C.E. rebound better after the heat stress ends

Ask your nutritionist or feed mill about including Promote I.C.E. PLUS in your rations when the temperatures rise. Or learn more on the product webpage.