Manage heat stress and calf welfare with Galebreaker’s advisory service

With pressure remaining on farmers to optimise productivity, achieving the right environment inside cattle sheds and calf housing is vital for animal health, welfare and performance.

To help farmers create and maintain optimum conditions that promote animal health, Galebreaker has launched two animal welfare advisory services including youngstock housing assessments and heat stress monitoring and reports.

Temperature humidity index (THI) monitoring

During warmer months, high ambient temperatures and humidity can increase cows’ susceptibility to heat stress.

Galebreaker and Phibro Animal Health’s online Temperature humidity index (THI) tool, THI-Live, gives a detailed, real-time overview of heat stress risks in livestock sheds. As more and more sensors are installed in farms across the UK the overall picture of heat stress becomes increasingly detailed. By tracking THI, farmers can stay up to date and over time recognise key trends in cattle sheds, which can help inform management decisions and support proactive planning for warmer conditions.

To further the reach of the THI-Live service, farmers can now  sign up to the new support packages delivered by Galebreaker’s animal welfare team and receive:

• A THI sensor to monitor conditions inside cattle sheds
• Monthly heat map reports that show trends and potential problem areas
• Live data access for benchmarking against other farms

Galebreaker’s bespoke reports demonstrate how thermal performance may be affecting cow fertility, lameness and milk yields in dairy herds, and are an ideal solution for businesses looking to maximise productivity by understanding the impact that warm, humid conditions can have on dairy cattle.

Galebreaker can also provide advanced assessments individually tailored to meet specific needs, using vision monitoring cameras, smoke testing and production data, for example.

Explore Galebreaker’s THI-Live service to monitor and optimise your cow shed climates by Contacting Us Today.

Read more on solutions for managing heat stress

Youngstock housing assessments

A calf’s early environment plays a vital role in its health and long-term development and is therefore fundamental to herd productivity.

To support farmers in achieving the optimum environment for calf health, Galebreaker’s animal welfare team offers calf housing assessments which include:

• Smoke bomb testing to evaluate in-shed airflow
• A review of key factors such as drainage, lighting, spacing and hygiene
• A comprehensive written report of findings and recommendations on how to improve existing facilities

Read more on solutions for calf housing

Find how Panda Holsteins improved their Calf Housing with Galebreaker.

Trusted expert advice for livestock health

Our animal welfare specialist, Chloe Rodriguez leads the advisory service team. Recently accredited in CowSignals® behavioural management and specialist training from the University of Wisconsin in Positive Pressure Tube Ventilation (PPTV) design, Chloe is well-placed to advise on how housing design influences calf and cow health.

She says: “Our advisory services provide comprehensive insight into how housing affects animal physiology and independent advice on ways to make crucial improvements that will enhance health and performance.”

“We’re committed to helping farmers make more informed decisions through a better understanding of environmental impacts.”

Whether you’re upgrading existing calf housing or designing new, Galebreaker can work with you to ensure your calf shed designs are optimised for both welfare and performance.

For more information on the new advisory services contact Galebreaker’s animal welfare team by clicking here.