How to stop heat stress in cattle using yeast and antioxidants.

Heat stress is a growing issue for high producing cattle but rumen specific live yeast and antioxidants can counteract the effects of this problem. Heat stress can cost dairy or beef farmers a large amount of money, due to production losses in milk and growth. 

 In dairy cows, the first short-term impact of heat stress is the reduction of milk yield ,about 10 to 35% reduction is usually recorded and acidosis risks are also increased. While in beef, fattening cattle are the most sensitive to heat stress with consequences such as increased acidosis risks and the reduction of feed intake, especially lower fiber consumption, which translates into lower growth performance and behavioral changes as producers often see less calm but more nervous animals. 

 A study shows that fattening heifers in the shade had a 100 g/day increase in average daily weight gain, as compared to those with no shade, due to higher feed intake in the shade. Moreover, these animals were less stressed and showed less carcass defaults such as dark meat. 

 The Long term consequences can arise on animal health, immune function or reproduction, especially as heat stress generally increases the production of free radicals, leading to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress in dairy cows can lead to increased mastitis frequency and higher somatic cell counts in milk. It can also cause decreased fertility, increased embryo mortality, post-partum retained placenta and early calving, with consequences on the calves’ live weight, mortality and health. Rumen specific live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae I-1077, considered as a rumen modifier, can help alleviate the impact of heat stress. In particular, its ability to help stabilize rumen pH and enhance fiber degradation in the rumen is particularly adapted to respond to heat stress challenges. Several trials showed good results in both dairy and beef cows. 

 Trials with a nutritional supplement , an antioxidant combination containing organic selenium, and a natural primary antioxidant source showed that the animal’s total antioxidant status (TAS) is improved, translating into: reduced somatic cell count in milk by 40-60%, a sign of enhanced immunity (also shown on dairy goats) and improved meat quality parameters in cattle. 

 There are other nutritional recommendations that can help combat heat-stress in cattle ,these are:1) Increase the energy density of the diet. 2) Add more starch or added fat to the diet as fat is not fermented in the rumen, hence does not release heat during digestion. 3) Mineral electrolytes balance must be maintained as excessive sudation, or panting, leads to losses of sodium and potassium. 4) Provide clean fresh water at all times but most especially after milking. 

 source Dairy Global.

Emerging business opportunities in dairy farming.

The dairy market in Nigeria is wide with an exponential growth with increasing population. Nigeria is one of the the biggest markets for milk consumption as evidenced by the numbers of foreign players in the sector in the country.

 The annual demand of milk consumption in Nigeria is estimated at 1.7 million metric tons while importation value is placed at 1.2 million metric tons,showing that local production accounts for only about 30% of the demand.

 The need to bridge this gap has prompted many farmers to sort out ways to boost local milk production,the need to increase locally produced milk is further championed by the government's directive that 10% of the milk should be sourced locally.

 The dairy industry is plagued by the following constraints and if these are addressed they production capacity will be so high that export will be possible.

There production of other by-products such as cheese,butter and yogurt will be increased such that these can also be exported to generate forex. The number one constraint is the breed available in the country,these indigenous breeds are not producing enough milk compared to exotic breeds.

Dairy farming is multi factorial relying on several factors to be a success. The success of dairy is connected to breeds,feeding and management practice. When cows are not fed adequate ration and management style is free range,such production style is flawed as the cows cannot thrive and hence cant produce enough milk.

 Nutrition is key,without a balanced ration,milk production will be low. The management aspect can be traced to breeding, if heat season is missed,or cows are infertile because of one disease or the other,then no pregnancy,no calving and no milk.

 When cows are mated and the calving is monitored,if calf management is not part of farm practice then calves will be left with dams which invariably will reduce milk yield from the farm as dams will be nursing the calves with milk meant for commercial purposes.

 The revamping of the industry will be facilitated by 1) introduction of exotic breeds to improve our breed-lines and expand milk production. The white Fulani is known to produce about 10 liters of milk a day as against the Holstein-Friesian with a capacity of about 30-50 liters a day.

 Breeding with exotic bulls promotes more production and even more calving rates on farm. Artificial insemination is the method used in various countries to improve their breeds,this is also practiced on some farms in Nigeria but the percentage is small such that impact is invisible.

2) Education on improved feeding techniques and management practices will also increase yield and productivity of herd,especially adoption of zero-grazing will turn the scale as it will improve and increase yield.

 The training on production and innovative branding of by-products will also generate more revenue and make more dairy products available and accessible to citizens as well as export options.The ever increasing population with more demand for dairy and dairy products makes this agribusiness a profitable venture.

Precision agriculture the future of food security.

Farmers that don’t learn about New agriculture technologies will get left behind because without smart farming ,the expected output will be low or nonexistent.


Whether it is information and technology or equipment technology, there are technologies that will help our agricultural industry deliver a sustainable, affordable, and nutritious supply of food to global consumers.

 This is where precision agriculture comes to play ;where the use of data and technology driven alternatives ensure maximum output.

 Precision agriculture enables a farmer to do more within a short space of time and sure of desired harvest.

Precision agriculture is a new approach to agriculture: machines,data analysis and robots are used to get the results required.

 A farmer based on precision agriculture can determine when to plant,where and how.Soil analysis, moisture analysis and weather forecast can help prevent loses.if planting is done in unfavorable sites. 

Precision agriculture in animal husbandry helps farmers to manage the flock properly,there are various approaches but all with the same aim to alert farmers of any health issues or environmental issues and ensure rapid response and the desired result of more products at expected times.