5 Reasons February is the Best Time to Plan for Heat Stress Prevention.

February might seem like an odd time to worry about heat stress on your dairy farm. The weather is cool, and the cows are comfortable. However, summer is closer than it feels, making February the perfect time to plan ahead. 

Here’s why proactive heat stress prevention is critical, even in February:

1. Protect Peak Milk Production
In many regions, dairy farms see their highest milk production in March (early spring) and their lowest in September (early autumn). This seasonal drop in production is often linked to the crippling effects of summer heat stress. Cows exposed to heat stress during summer produce less milk—not just during the heat but for months afterward. Acting now ensures that you are ready to protect your herd and maintain higher production when the heat arrives.

2. Prevent Reproductive Losses
Heat stress doesn’t just hurt milk production; it disrupts reproduction. Dairy herds often experience conception rate drops of 30 to 50% during peak summer months. I have heard as high as 100% on some farms in extreme climates. Poor conception rates in summer result in fewer calves the following spring, which impacts your herd’s future performance. February is the time to evaluate how heat stress affected your herd last year and to implement solutions to prevent reproductive setbacks this summer.

3. Plan and Install Cooling Systems
Effective heat stress prevention starts with the right systems, a system that takes both temperature and humidity into consideration. A system that prioritizes cooling cows directly by maintaining their core body temperature. Many systems on the market and in barns today simply move hot air around, attempting to cool ambient air, at best, rendering them completely ineffective on hot days. At worst, they turn your barn into a convection oven, effectively cooking your cows. 

Invest in a system that focuses on cooling core body temperature rather than cooling ambient air. Planning, ordering, and installing these systems early ensures they are in place before summer heat strikes, preventing delays that could reduce their effectiveness when you need them most.

4. Take Advantage of Seasonal Downtime
February is often a quieter time on the farm, providing the perfect opportunity to assess your barn’s cooling capabilities and review last year’s heat stress data. Investing time now to analyze and plan will pay off when your herd stays productive and healthy through the summer. Did you know milk temperature is roughly the same as core body temperature? If your milking equipment records milk temperature, you can use that as a way to gauge how heat-stressed your cows were last summer. 

5. Support Your Bottom Line
Heat stress costs money. From lost milk production to reduced reproduction and higher culling rates, the financial impact adds up quickly. By addressing heat stress before it begins, you’re not only protecting your cows, but you are also safeguarding your farm’s profitability. February is the time to calculate the potential return on investment (ROI) of cooling solutions and make decisions that will pay dividends for years to come.

The Core Cool Systems team is ready to work with you to understand the unique challenges on your farm and how heat stress impacts your operation. We’ll evaluate your current cooling system and create a tailored solution that addresses your needs—because your barn and climate are unique. Unlike one-size-fits-all solutions, Core Cool Systems is fully customizable, ensuring your cows are kept comfortable, no matter the weather.

Contact Nancy at +1-330-717-8852 or via email at nancy@corecoolsystems.com to connect with a local solutions provider and start planning for a future where summer heat stress no longer threatens your farm’s productivity.