VETZOO Veterinarija ir Zootechnika 2669-2511 1392-2130 LSMU BORSHCH Research article Effects of Different Cooling Systems on Cows’ Behaviour and Comfort during the Hot Period Borshch Oleksandr V. Department of Technology of Milk and Meat Production, Faculty of Biotechnological, Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, pl. 8/1 Soborna, 09117, Bila Tserkva, Ukraine Ruban Sergiy Department of Genetics, Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology, Faculty of Livestock Raising and Water Bioresources, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, General Rodimtsev str., 19, Kyiv, 03041, Ukraine Kostenko Vasyl Department of Genetics, Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology, Faculty of Livestock Raising and Water Bioresources, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, General Rodimtsev str., 19, Kyiv, 03041, Ukraine Borshch Oleksandr O. borshcha@outlook.com ∗∗∗∗ Department of Technology of Milk and Meat Production, Faculty of Biotechnological, Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, pl. 8/1 Soborna, 09117, Bila Tserkva, Ukraine Department of Genetics, Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology, Faculty of Livestock Raising and Water Bioresources, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, General Rodimtsev str., 19, Kyiv, 03041, Ukraine Cherniavskyi Oleksandr Department of Technology of Milk and Meat Production, Faculty of Biotechnological, Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, pl. 8/1 Soborna, 09117, Bila Tserkva, Ukraine Korol-Bezpala Lesia Department of Technology of Milk and Meat Production, Faculty of Biotechnological, Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, pl. 8/1 Soborna, 09117, Bila Tserkva, Ukraine Fedorchenko Maksym Department of Technology of Milk and Meat Production, Faculty of Biotechnological, Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, pl. 8/1 Soborna, 09117, Bila Tserkva, Ukraine Matvieiev Мykhailo Department of Genetics, Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology, Faculty of Livestock Raising and Water Bioresources, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, General Rodimtsev str., 19, Kyiv, 03041, Ukraine Corresponding author. 80 2 10 15 27 02 2023 27 02 2023 26 06 2022 24 08 2022 27 09 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of high temperatures on the behavior, comfort and thermoregulation energy consumption of cows at free-stall keeping in two barns. The first barn had the system of forced ventilation and air irrigation, and the second one had only fans. Barn parameters were (Length × Width × Height) 94 × 32.1 × 10.5 m. The research was conducted in central Ukraine (Kyiv region) during July 2021. The average daily ambient temperature during the study period was +26.4°C. In each of the barns, the groups of similar of non-pregnant and lactating animals (107 ± 14 days in milking) of Holstein breed were formed. Cows were fed the total mixed ration twice a day in both barns. Hours of air cooling elements operation in the barns were from 10.00 to 18.00. The use of fans in combination with irrigation systems during hot periods had a positive effect on the heat transfer of cows compared with the heat transfer of cows that were in the barn with fans. With this combination, the temperature of the skin and the resting place under the lying cow and energy consumption for heat production were 0.5°C and 0.8°C and 3.1 MJ lower. In addition, this combination of air cooling systems had a positive effect on the duration of lying down and eating food (32 and 16 minutes longer, respectively), and the indicators of standing time, physical activity and drinking were lower by 16, 21 and 6 minutes, respectively. Accordingly, the best values were the cow comfort index (CCI), stall use index (SUI) and cow feeding index (CFI) (4.78, 4.87 and 0.08). In terms of stall standing index (SSI), stall perching index (SPI) and cow drinking index (CDI), slightly higher rates were observed in the barn using fans only (3.72, 1.06 and 0.013).

 dairy cows barns heat stress fans irrigation behavior comfort