MVSc

An experiment was conducted to find the effect of
sprinkling water on crossbred cows during summer season of



Kerala.


Twelve early lactating crossbred cows were selected



and put into four groups of three each and were randomly
allotted to four treatments as open house with sprinkler (T1),
open house without sprinkler (T2), tie-barn with sprinkler
(T3) and tie-barn without sprinkler (T4).
The mean maximum temperature recorded in the T1, T2, T3
and T4 locations were 32.03, 32.17, 33.27 and 33.40oC
respectively and these were lower than the maximum temperature
recorded outside the animal houses (35.45oC). Both within the
tie-barn and within the open house, the mean maximum and
minimum temperatures and mean relative humidity morning and
afternoon did not differ significantly due to sprinkling of



water.But the differences between the tie-barn and open



house were highly significant (P<0.01) and higher in the
tie-barn for all these variables.
Physiological reaction such as rectal temperature,
respiratory rate and cardiac rate did not vary significantly



between treatments for morning recording.
For afternoon



recording the differences were highly significant. Sprinkling

of water in T1 and T3 markedly reduced the diurnal rise in
physiological norms compared to T4. The difference between T2




and T3 was comparable. Mean weekly milk yield of cows in T1,
T2 and T3 increased by 4.70, 1.22 and 1.71 kg per head
respectively compared with T4. Milk composition such as total
solids, solids not fat, protein and fat percentages did not
vary significantly between treatments. Green grass
consumption differed significantly between treatments and
highest in the T1 (26.16 kg per cow). Daily water
consumption differed significantly between treatments and
highest in the T4 (31.72 kg).

Haemoglobin, packed cell volume and erythrocyte
sedimentation rate differed significantly (P<0. 01) between
treatments. There was a uniform loss in body weights of all
the experimental cows as lactation progressed upto the peak
yield stage, thereafter the cows had shown tendency to regain
body weights irrespective of the type of treatment given.
Sprinkling water in T1 and T3 encouraged the feeding and
rumination of cows during hot hours of the day and consumed
significantly more feed. Sprinkling of water in T1 and T3
increased the intensity and duration of oestrus 'and successful
insemination rate.

The results suggest that during the summer season of
Kerala tree shade or simple shade areas with roof supported
on pillors affording maximum ventilation and sprinkling or
splashing of water during hot hours of the day may be
practiced to alleviate heat stress and reduce drop in milk
production and fertility rate during summer.