TRADITIONAL TREATMENT OF HEAT STRESS DURING SUMMER IN DAIRY ANIMALS

Introduction—-

Heat Stress indicates all high temperature related stress, which induces thermoregulatory changes in cattle. During the extreme hot humid or hot dry weather, this thermoregulatory capability of cattle to dissipate heat by sweating and panting is compromised and heat stress occurs. Severe heat stress can further lead to rise in body temperature, increased pulse rate, increased peripheral blood flow, reduced feed intake, and increased water intake. When the environmental temperature goes beyond Upper critical temperature (24°-26°C for Exotic and crossbred cattle and 33°C for Zebu cattle and 36°C for buffaloes), body is unable to maintain the core body temperature through sweating and panting (evaporative heat loss mechanism). This when coupled with rising body heat production rate lead to hyperthermia in the animal

Heat stress is a major problem faced by dairy animals during summer months which leads to decreased milk production and lower rates of fertility. This post explaines about the traditional treatment of heat stress, and Strategies to reduce the negative effects of heat stress on dairy cattle

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Natural ayurvedic cures for heatrstroke——-

Some effective natural cures and home remedies which are very simple but very effective during the conditions of heat stroke or heat exhaustion are

Natural Home Remedies for Heat Stroke in dairy cattle—-

• Applying juice extracted from onion on the body and behind the ears is one of the most highly recommended home remedies for Heat Stroke. Alternatively, one can roast some chopped onions in an open pan and add some cumin seed powder and a little bit of sugar in it. Offer this mixture to animals is another valuable home remedy using onion.

• Extract the juice of holy basil leaves and add some sugar in it. Drinking this solution serves as a very therapeutic natural remedy to cure this disease.

• Raw mango is one of the most popular natural home remedies for Heat Stroke prevention as well as cure. For this, take some raw mangoes, boil them and then soak them in cold water. Then, take the pulp of these mangoes and put it in a blender along with some coriander, cumin seeds, jaggery, salt and pepper. Blend this mixture along with some water and give/feed it to animal of this home medicine 3-4 times a day to prevent Heat Strokes and cure them too. Another remdy would be to roast raw mango in coal ash. Take the pulp of this roasted mango mixed with some sugar to reduce Heat Stroke related symptoms.

• Prepare a paste of grinded black peppercorns in some coconut milk. Applying this cooling mixture on the body is an efficient home remedy used in the treatment of Heat Stroke.

• providing cool water with a little bit of salt added to it is one of the most successful natural home remedies for Heat Stroke treatment.

• drinking water mixed wih aloe vera juice is one of the easiest natural home remedies for Heat Stroke.

• Take a grinded mixture of 10 gm rose petals, 25 gm fennel seeds, 10 gm gojuiva flower and 10 gm java flower and add some sugar or milk to it. Provide this mixture for about three or four days while dealing with Heat Stroke.

• Taking coriander juice mixed with sugar is a simple natural home remedy used in the treatment of Heat Strokes and other heat related ailments.

• Soak some plums in water until they become soft. Next, mash these soft plums in water itself and strain it. Give this decoction to your cows to heal this problem and its symptoms.

• Add some tamarind in boiling water and strain it. Give this in Drinking water .give this decoction at least twice a day is a tried and tested natural remedy that is used to control the core temperature of the body.

 Plenty of water mixed with glucose water and electrolytes should be given to animals regularly.

TREATING SUNSTROKE OR HEAT EXHAUSTION IN DAIRY CATTLE BY HOMEOPATHY ——-

Hansford & Pinkus in The Herdsman’s Introduction to Homeopathy recommend the following: Use Aconite 30C – one every 15 minutes if worse for standing and shows anxiety. Belladonna 30C can be used alternately where the animal is excited and has dilated pupils; if recumbent and limbs tremor and jerk use Glonoine 30C. Dose every 15 minutes, gradually increasing time between doses until improvement is seen. Always stop with improvement

TIPS TO RELIEVE HEAT STRESS IN DAIRY CATTLE ———

: i. Feed animals at night during summer

ii. Give them easily digestible fodder of good quality

iii. Increase the ration/quantity of green fodder

iv. Give them mineral mixture regularly. Put lumps of salt in their mangers

v. If the animals are tied in one place, give them water at least five times a day.

vi. Mix 100 grams sodium bicarbonate in their fodder. It decreases the adverse effects of heat Give them 100 gram oil daily.also double the dose of mineral mixture i.e 100 gm daily , and salt 50 to 75 gram daily during severe humid and high temperature.

vii. Keep the animals in a shady place. Availability of fresh water for the animals at all times . Bathe the animals again and again. But give them more air from a fan rather than bathing them, in case of high humidity . Graze them when the weather is cool . Change feeding timings for animals in the summer season

Increase the frequency of feeding to 4-6 times a day; give the highest proportion at late evening or during the night

Reduce the effects of a negative energy balance around calving: maintain feed intake at a normal level during close-up and fresh cow period. Take care of optimal claw health.

Reference-on request