Dairy producers across Wisconsin now have a new tool to help manage one of summer’s biggest challenges: heat stress. It costs the U.S. dairy industry significantly each year through reduced milk production, lower fertility, and added health expenses. At the same time, the cost of running the fans and ventilation systems that prevent those losses keeps rising, making smart decisions on the farm matter more than ever.
To support those decisions, we have launched a free mobile app called Dairy Ventilation. It is now available on both Google Play and the App Store.
What the app does
Dairy Ventilation is a practical decision-support tool built specifically for Wisconsin dairy producers. The app uses a farm’s GPS location to retrieve real-time weather data, then calculates the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), a measure often used to assess heat stress risk in dairy cattle. The app then indicates whether cows are comfortable, mildly stressed, or severely stressed.
The tool goes well beyond THI monitoring. After entering basic barn dimensions and herd size, the app evaluates whether the current ventilation meets the herd’s needs. If there are plans to switch from natural to mechanical ventilation, the app calculates how many fans are needed and estimates their energy consumption.
For producers considering investing in new fans, the app visualizes whether a fan’s energy efficiency falls below, above, or within the average range for 24-inch, 36-inch, 48-inch, and 60-inch fan sizes. The app can also compare two fans head-to-head. If one is more expensive but more efficient, it shows whether the energy savings justify the higher cost, and how long it takes to pay back.
When and how to use it
The app is designed to be approachable. It translates research into something a busy producer can use in under five minutes. There are no logins, no accounts to create, and no ads. Producers can use Dairy Ventilation in three practical ways:
First, as a daily decision tool during summer heat events. A quick check tells producers whether heat stress risk is high and cows need closer attention.
Second, as a planning tool when producers are considering ventilation upgrades. Rather than relying on a single fan vendor’s claims, producers can compare different brands and fans on their own terms.
Third, as a time-saving tool. The calculations producers need are just a few taps away; no spreadsheets, formulas, or manual number-crunching required.
For questions, suggestions, or feedback, please reach out to Nesli Akdeniz at nesli@wisc.edu.
Nesli Akdeniz is an assistant professor and extension specialist at UW-Madison Extension
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: New app helps dairy farmers tackle summer heat stress on cattle
Reporting by Nesli Akdeniz, Wisconsin State Farmer / Wisconsin State Farmer
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