Aspects of the use of shading in grasslands

Abstract

The lack of incentives to promote research and projects that show the importance of maintaining trees or build shelters in the pasture for livestock is a problem to be solved in the area of animal production. Recently several studies were made on the gain in livestock production due to the use of shade or shelter. In one study it was found a 20% increase in average production of dairy cattle that had access to shade. In all cases the high temperature associated with a high relative humidity, as well as the solar radiation and other environmental factors, components are considered too stressful climatic dairy cattle in order to reduce the growth performance of animals, since, that dairy cows, especially those of high production, are sensitive to heat stress. Various regions of the planet there is a lack of trees to provide adequate shade for the animals that are raised on pasture, in these cases the best thing to do is enjoy of shading, whether mobile or fixed, which is important for animal welfare and improve their reproductive performance. Some researchers observed the effect of shade provided by pickets in lactating dairy cows and concluded that cows with access to shade had higher total daily milk production than those who did not benefit from shade. Therefore, it is important to keep the trees and build shelters for the flocks of creation can withstand the high incidences of sunlight and improve their reproductive performance.