Dairy cont....
Milk down as cow heat up
Rising temperatures associated with climate change are likely to lower milk yield from cows, according to a CSIRO study. Milk losses will be minimised, say the researchers, if farmers adapt by providing shade and sprinklers for their herd.
The study uses a new approach, measuring future changes in terms of risk to farm productivity rather than in climatic terms.
The study was conducted in the Hunter Valley for the NSW Cabinet Office. CSIRO is confident that the findings will apply elsewhere in Australia.
"Primary producers who are users of climate information and often vulnerable to changes in the weather want to know how climate change will affect their activities," says Dr Roger Jones from CSIRO Atmospheric Research.
"We have analysed and presented the results of the study showing how much dairy farmers may need to adapt to the impacts of climate change to maintain their productivity," says Dr Jones.
"Under current climate, dairy cows in the Hunter Valley that are kept out in the open produce about 3 per cent less milk than those kept under shelter," says Dr Jones.
"This loss represents about 230 litres of milk per cow each year for a high-yielding herd," says Dr Jones. "By adapting to hot weather by using shade sheds and sprinklers, milk losses can be reduced to about 50 litres per cow per year."
However, because of climate change likely by the year 2030, milk losses are likely to be between 250 and 310 litres per cow per year, depending on the rate of warming.
"Importantly, the study has found that if farmers use shade sheds and sprinklers, each of their cows will produce 190 to 220 litres more milk per year than cows left exposed in paddocks. This would limit milk losses after adaptation to about 60-90 litres per cow per year. Our study shows that where measures limiting the effect of high temperatures on livestock are economic now, they will save even more money in future," says Dr Jones.
CSIRO has discussed its findings with staff from government departments, conservation councils and the NSW Dairy Farmers Association.
"We studied hot cows because they were relatively simple to model," says Dr Jones, "and we wanted to demonstrate our methods of risk assessment to the government and community."
The researchers are hoping to apply their methods to study the risk that climate change poses for integrated catchment management in the Hunter Valley.
Climate Change Impacts in the Hunter Valley
A risk assessment of stress affecting dairy cattle.
18 August 2000'
see full report at www.cmar.csiro.au/ar/news/2000/mr13.html
Dairy cont....
Milk down as cow heat up
Rising temperatures associated with climate change are likely to lower milk yield from cows, according to a CSIRO study. Milk losses will be minimised, say the researchers, if farmers adapt by providing shade and sprinklers for their herd.
The study uses a new approach, measuring future changes in terms of risk to farm productivity rather than in climatic terms.
The study was conducted in the Hunter Valley for the NSW Cabinet Office. CSIRO is confident that the findings will apply elsewhere in Australia.
"Primary producers who are users of climate information and often vulnerable to changes in the weather want to know how climate change will affect their activities," says Dr Roger Jones from CSIRO Atmospheric Research.
"We have analysed and presented the results of the study showing how much dairy farmers may need to adapt to the impacts of climate change to maintain their productivity," says Dr Jones.
"Under current climate, dairy cows in the Hunter Valley that are kept out in the open produce about 3 per cent less milk than those kept under shelter," says Dr Jones.
"This loss represents about 230 litres of milk per cow each year for a high-yielding herd," says Dr Jones. "By adapting to hot weather by using shade sheds and sprinklers, milk losses can be reduced to about 50 litres per cow per year."
However, because of climate change likely by the year 2030, milk losses are likely to be between 250 and 310 litres per cow per year, depending on the rate of warming.
"Importantly, the study has found that if farmers use shade sheds and sprinklers, each of their cows will produce 190 to 220 litres more milk per year than cows left exposed in paddocks. This would limit milk losses after adaptation to about 60-90 litres per cow per year. Our study shows that where measures limiting the effect of high temperatures on livestock are economic now, they will save even more money in future," says Dr Jones.
CSIRO has discussed its findings with staff from government departments, conservation councils and the NSW Dairy Farmers Association.
"We studied hot cows because they were relatively simple to model," says Dr Jones, "and we wanted to demonstrate our methods of risk assessment to the government and community."
The researchers are hoping to apply their methods to study the risk that climate change poses for integrated catchment management in the Hunter Valley.
Climate Change Impacts in the Hunter Valley
A risk assessment of stress affecting dairy cattle.
18 August 2000'
see full report at www.cmar.csiro.au/ar/news/2000/mr13.html
