Heat Stress Mitigation: Impact of Increased Cooling Sessions on Milk Yield and Welfare of Dairy Buffaloes in a Semiarid Summer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In this study, we assessed the impact of increased cooling sessions on milk production and physiological measures, including respiration rate and body temperature, in dairy buffaloes during a semiarid summer in Pakistan. Eighteen Nili Ravi buffaloes were assigned to three cooling strategies: CTL (handheld hosepipe cooling twice daily for 5 min), 3CS (sprinkler cooling three times daily), and 5CS (sprinkler cooling five times daily). The 5CS group produced 1.6 and 3.2 kg more milk per day than 3CS and CTL, respectively, with more milk fat. The buffaloes in the 5CS group also had lower core body temperatures and respiration rates than the CTL and 3CS groups. Furthermore, buffaloes in the 5CS group spent significantly more time eating and showed decreased blood cortisol levels. Our study demonstrated that increased cooling sessions had a beneficial effect on milk yield and composition, particularly by increasing milk fat content. Additionally, more cooling sessions positively influenced the welfare of dairy buffaloes by lowering respiration rate, body temperature, and cortisol levels. These findings underscore the critical importance of optimizing cooling practices in dairy buffalo management. ABSTRACT: The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of increasing cooling sessions from three to five times a day on milk yield and the welfare of dairy buffaloes during a semiarid summer in Pakistan. Eighteen Nili Ravi buffaloes were randomly assigned to three cooling strategies: (1) CTL, where buffaloes were cooled with a handheld hosepipe twice daily for 5 min each; (2) 3CS, where buffaloes were cooled using sprinklers three times daily; and (3) 5CS, where buffaloes were cooled using sprinklers five times daily. Each sprinkler cooling session lasted 1 h, with a 6 min cycle of 3 min of water on and 3 min off. Results showed that the 5CS group produced 1.6 and 3.2 kg more milk per day compared to the 3CS and CTL groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Both the 5CS and 3CS groups had consistently lower core body temperatures and respiration rates than the CTL group. Buffaloes in the 5CS group spent significantly more time eating (p < 0.001). Additionally, the 5CS group exhibited lower cortisol and blood urea nitrogen levels (p = 0.001) and higher glucose levels than the CTL group (p = 0.006). In conclusion, increasing cooling sessions to five times daily improved milk yield and welfare compared to the traditional cooling strategy (CTL) in dairy buffaloes during semiarid summers, highlighting the benefits of optimized cooling practices.