Effect of cool roof technology on physiological and production performance of Sahiwal zebu cows

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of a cool roof technology on performance of Sahiwal zebu cows during hot-humid summer months. Sixteen lactating Sahiwal cows were selected in their early lactation for a period of 8 weeks. Animals were divided into two groups of 8 cows each and housed in two different sheds. The control group was housed in the shed with asbestos roof while the treatment group was housed in a modified shed having white acrylic paint on the roof. The mean maximum temperature inside the treatment shed was lower (32.07±0.30) than that of control shed (33.37±0.30). The afternoon THI in control (85.46±0.28) and treatment shed (84.42±0.28) also found to be significantly different. The inner ceiling temperature of control shed was higher in control shed (51.67±0.41) than in treatment (47.65±0.31) shed. In addition, Sahiwal cows housed under white painted roof shed found to have significantly (p