Why is it essential to keep a cow's core body temperature cool?
How does the Core Cool System maintain Cow's Core Body Temperature?

Maintaining cows' core body temperature within their thermal comfort zone is crucial for their comfort, health, and productivity. Unlike humans, cows don't sweat to dissipate heat, relying instead on their environment to stay cool. Core Cool Systems focuses on the cow's core temperature, rather than just cooling the ambient air, to provide more effective heat stress relief. This ensures cows remain in their thermal comfort zone, regardless of external temperatures.

What does that mean for YOU?

Do you get milk temperature alerts in the summer? Or heavy breathing alerts? Do your cows stand and pant, maybe even drool in summer? Any time a cow's core body temperature exceeds 39°C or 102.2°F, production, reproduction, and health suffer.

A farmer in Ontario uses CattleScan, a rumen bolus that continually measures the cow's body temperature and sends him real-time alerts. Recently, at an open house, his veterinarian told me that the farmer used to get upwards of 40 core body temperature alerts daily. She was very concerned about the cows, as their core body temperature often rose above 40.5°C. Production, reproduction, and the health and well-being of the cows were very seriously impacted.

The farmer installed Core Cool Systems in 2023, and the results were immediate. He went from several alerts daily to zero alerts overnight. Lying time improved, production stabilized and began improving, and reproduction improved within 60 days.

Here is his report from July 2024. As you can see, there were several heat stress events during that period. The cows stayed within their thermal comfort zone. For 22 days, the THI was 77 or higher, with 17 days reaching a THI of 80 or higher!

The cows maintained production, reproduction never skipped a beat, and the cows remained healthy and content. These benefits far outweigh the initial cost of the investment. The value is clear, and the impact on farm profitability and performance is fantastic.

How Does Core Cool Systems Work?

Temperature and Humidity Monitoring: The system continuously monitors the barn's temperature and humidity index (THI), adjusting cooling efforts based on the cows' needs.

Variable Speed Fans: These Core Cool Units adjust their speed based on ambient temperature and humidity, providing precisely the air speed needed to meet barn conditions and keep the cows cool.

Evaporative Cooling: When temperatures and humidity reach a certain threshold, the system activates evaporative cooling, adding fine droplets of water that quickly evaporate, providing additional cooling.

Focused Airflow: High-velocity air is directed over the cows, helping dissipate the heat their bodies generate.

Intelligent Water Cooling: This low-pressure, low-volume feature provides cooling without soaking the stalls. The ultra-fine droplet lands on the cow's coat. The combination of high-speed air and the heat the cow is throwing off her body causes that water droplet to evaporate, causing a chemical reaction, chilling the blood flowing just below the skin's surface. This cooled blood is pumped towards the cow's core, effectively core-cooling her. 

Combining these elements, Core Cool Systems ensures cows remain within their thermal comfort zone, improving their health, productivity, and overall well-being. Scientific research supports this approach, highlighting the negative impact of heat stress on milk production, reproductive health, and overall cow welfare. Studies from the University of California, Davis, among others, underscore the importance of maintaining a cool core body temperature for dairy cows.Core Cool Systems helps farmers achieve better herd health, increased productivity, and more efficient use of resources, ultimately leading to a more profitable and sustainable farming operation.

Benefits of Keeping Cows' Core Body Temperature Cool:

Enhanced Milk Production: Cows experiencing heat stress produce significantly less milk. Core Cool Systems helps maintain optimal milk production levels by keeping their core body temperature cool.

Improved Reproductive Health: Heat stress can negatively impact cows' reproductive systems, resulting in lower conception rates and longer calving intervals. Maintaining a cool core body temperature improves reproductive efficiency and overall herd fertility.

Optimal Feed Efficiency: Comfortable cows are more likely to consume their full feed ration, leading to better feed conversion and overall health.

Reduced Health Risks: Heat stress increases disease susceptibility, mortality rates, and general malaise. Keeping cows cool reduces these risks, promoting better overall health.

Resource Conservation: Core Cool Systems uses targeted cooling methods, conserving water and energy by focusing cooling efforts directly at the cows rather than cooling the entire barn.

Consistent Comfort: By focusing on the cows' core body temperature, the system ensures a more consistent and comfortable environment, which is crucial for cow welfare and preventing the harmful effects of temperature fluctuations.

Our name says what we do, and with proven on-farm results since 2009, you can be confident in investing in technology that prioritizes keeping your cow's core cool.

For more information on managing THI and preventing heat stress, visit our website, corecoolsystems.com or contact nancy@corecoolsystems.com. You can also learn more about Core Cool Systems from this overview presentation.

Let’s work together to keep your cows cool and productive, no matter the weather.