Dr. Jennifer Van Os: Heat Stress in Cows - Part 1 | Ep. 74

Mar 20, 2025

Dr. Jennifer Van Os, an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, dives deep into heat stress in dairy cows. She discusses how thermal discomfort can affect cow welfare and production, emphasizing early signs like increased respiration rates. Van Os also outlines effective cooling strategies for various climates and production systems. By prioritizing thermal comfort, farmers can enhance animal welfare while ensuring productivity.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Understanding Heat Stress and Animal Welfare in Dairy Cattle

01:31 • 3min

Understanding Heat Stress in High-Producing Cows

04:45 • 4min

Combating Heat Stress in Dairy Cows: Strategies and Insights

09:07 • 3min

In this special episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, celebrating International Women’s Day, Dr. Jennifer Van Os from the University of Wisconsin-Madison discusses the critical role of heat abatement in dairy cattle welfare and production. She explains how thermal discomfort affects cows, emphasizing early physiological indicators like respiration rate. Learn about the best cooling strategies for different climates and production systems. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"We need to think about thermal discomfort sooner—before we see drops in production—because cows start coping with heat stress much earlier."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jennifer Van Os is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned her Ph.D. in Animal Behavior from UC Davis and completed postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on understanding and improving the quality of life for dairy animals.

Click to read the full research articles:

Effect of different air speeds at cow resting height in freestalls on heat stress responses and resting behavior in lactating cows in Wisconsin

Consistent stall air speeds in commercial dairy farms are associated with less variability in cow lying times

What will you learn:

(00:00) Highlight
(01:08) Introduction
(01:41) Guest background
(02:34) Heat stress impact
(04:06) Thermal comfort vs. neutrality
(05:39) Cooling strategies for cows
(08:17) Early discomfort signs
(11:03) Closing thoughts

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