By Dairy Dimension Nutrition Desk | June 2025
🧾 At a Glance
- India’s summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, leading to milk yield losses, fertility issues, and metabolic disorders in dairy cows
- Heat stress reduces Dry Matter Intake (DMI), affecting energy balance and productivity
- Innovative nutritional interventions—from protected fat to electrolytes and feeding schedules—can mitigate the impact
- Climate-resilient feed strategies must be adopted in tandem with housing and hydration interventions
🌡️ The Indian Heat Challenge
India’s dairy cows endure some of the harshest summer conditions among major milk-producing nations. Heat stress begins at a Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) above 72, and for large parts of India, this threshold is crossed for over 100 days a year. During this time, cows eat less, produce less, and become more vulnerable to disease.
Unlike Europe or North America, where mechanised cooling is widespread, many Indian farmers lack access to misting fans or ventilated housing. Hence, nutritional strategies become a frontline defence.
🥩 Energy-Dense Diets with Lower Heat Load
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Add Bypass Fats (Protected Fats):
- Fat generates less internal heat during digestion than carbohydrates and proteins. Use rumen-protected fats, such as prilled palm oil or cottonseed-based fats.
- Maintain total fat levels within 5-7% of dry matter (DM) to prevent rumen dysfunction.
Balance Protein Types:
- Emphasise rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) sources, such as bypass soybean meal or cottonseed cake.
- Reduce rumen degradable protein (RDP) to prevent ammonia accumulation and internal heat load.
💧 Maintain Electrolyte and Mineral Balance
Cows lose electrolytes through increased salivation and sweating in extreme heat. Supplementing the diet with electrolytes improves thermoregulation and hydration:
- Use sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and potassium bicarbonate (KHCO₃) to buffer rumen pH and maintain intake
- Add magnesium, chromium, and niacin to help cows cope with stress and maintain glucose metabolism
- Betaine (from sugar beet) helps cells retain water, especially useful in arid zones like Rajasthan or Telangana
🐄 Improve Water Availability & Cooling
- Provide clean, cool water 24×7. Even a drop in water temperature from 30°C to 20°C can reduce respiratory rate and increase milk yield.
- Ensure one water trough per 15 cows, with good shade and water pressure
- Avoid feeding during peak heat; cows should rest and ruminate during the hottest hours
⏰ Adjust Feeding Schedules and Ration Design
- Feed during cooler parts of the day—early morning (4–6 AM) and late evening (8–10 PM)
- Split the total daily ration into multiple small meals to maintain dry matter intake (DMI)
- Use high-digestibility forages and less lignified roughage (e.g., early-cut sorghum or maize silage instead of mature crop residues)
🌿 Support with Functional Additives
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Include rumen-protected amino acids (methionine and lysine) to support milk protein synthesis
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Plant-based bioactives like garlic oil, mint, or cinnamon can reduce inflammation and promote gut comfort
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Probiotics and live yeast help stabilise rumen microbes during feed and heat stress
🔍 India-Specific Considerations
| Parameter | Recommended Strategy |
|---|---|
| Climate | Heat stress from March to July in most states |
| Housing | Shade + ventilation + feeding in cooler hours |
| Breed Susceptibility | HF-crosses suffer more than Gir, Sahiwal, or Tharparkar |
| Feed Base | Improve the digestibility of dry fodder, add fat supplements |
| Access to Additives | Focus on cost-effective, locally sourced options |
✅ Conclusion: Nutrition Is the First Line of Defence
Heat stress in dairy cows is not just a climate issue—it’s an economic one. In India, where many farmers rely on every litre of milk for household income, mitigating heat stress through nutrition is essential.
By strategically modifying diets to reduce metabolic heat, support hydration, and sustain intake, we can protect not just cows but the livelihoods of millions of Indian dairy farmers.
