FFAR Grant Helps Heat-Stressed Dairy Cows Weather Increasing Temperatures
Dr. Joseph McFadden
Cornell University
The demand for dairy products and milk globally is expected to increase 57% by 2050. However, rising temperatures are compromising the American dairy industry’s ability to meet these demands because a cow’s milk production can decline up to 70% in warm weather. Holsteins, by far the dominant breed in U.S. dairy farming, begin to suffer heat stress at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. These heat-stressed dairy cows cost the American dairy industry an alarming $1.5 billion annually. Heat-stressed dairy cows also have reduced fertility, are more likely to develop infectious and metabolic diseases and may succumb to premature death.
Why this research is important
This research supports sustainable animal systems through innovative technologies, environmentally sound production practices and advancements in animal health and welfare. It also has the potential to develop solutions that can improve the American dairy industry.
Climate change and extreme heat represent key barriers for the sustainable production of milk that meets consumer expectations for quality as well as the rising global demand for dairy foods. We must act now to develop innovative solutions that revolutionize how we feed heat-stressed cows to ensure optimum animal health and welfare while achieving gains in efficient milk production.
Dr. Joseph McFadden
Associate Professor of dairy cattle biology in the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Details About this Research
This research is part of FFAR’s Seeding Solutions annual grant program that funds audacious research supporting each of our Challenge Areas. The pioneering science funded through this program convenes unique partners from across the food and agriculture sector to solve bold challenges.
Scope of Work
Researchers will start by understanding the relationship between dairy cattle’s gut health, intestinal permeability, liver health, immunity and milk production. McFadden’s team will also determine whether heat-stressed dairy cows can recover if fed specific remedies. His team will partner with industry collaborators to reduce the use of limited natural resources and drive down dairy production costs in support of a more sustainable and economically viable American dairy industry. The involvement of the consortium of allied industry partners that committed support is essential to ensure the translation of discoveries into practical on-farm dairy nutrition strategies that improve heat stress resilience in cows. McFadden will work with each sponsor and the Cornell PRO-DAIRY program to disseminate knowledge in an annual editorial series called “Beat the Heat: Dairy Nutrition Strategies for Optimum Cow Health” that will be shared with thousands of American dairy farmers.
FFAR Fellows Program Assists with Research
How This Research Contributes to Our Mission
FFAR supports pioneering science to provide everyone access to affordable, nutritious food grown on thriving farms. This research identifies methods to mitigate the decline in heat-stressed dairy cows’ milk production to meet the expected 57-percent increase in global consumer demand for dairy products by 2050.
Matching Funders & Collaborators
array(1) {
["latest"]=>
array(3) {
["tax"]=>
array(2) {
[0]=>
object(WP_Term)#4872 (10) {
["term_id"]=>
int(2)
["name"]=>
string(23) "Advanced Animal Systems"
["slug"]=>
string(23) "advanced-animal-systems"
["term_group"]=>
int(0)
["term_taxonomy_id"]=>
int(2)
["taxonomy"]=>
string(18) "challenge_area_tax"
["description"]=>
string(0) ""
["parent"]=>
int(0)
["count"]=>
int(196)
["filter"]=>
string(3) "raw"
}
[1]=>
object(WP_Term)#4874 (10) {
["term_id"]=>
int(141)
["name"]=>
string(17) "Seeding Solutions"
["slug"]=>
string(17) "seeding-solutions"
["term_group"]=>
int(0)
["term_taxonomy_id"]=>
int(141)
["taxonomy"]=>
string(11) "program_tax"
["description"]=>
string(0) ""
["parent"]=>
int(0)
["count"]=>
int(136)
["filter"]=>
string(3) "raw"
}
}
["research"]=>
array(3) {
["title"]=>
string(0) ""
["image"]=>
bool(false)
["promo_text"]=>
string(37) "Read the latest project breakthroughs"
}
["latest"]=>
array(3) {
["title"]=>
string(10) "The Latest"
["sections_show"]=>
array(4) {
[0]=>
string(8) "insights"
[1]=>
string(4) "news"
[2]=>
string(6) "events"
[3]=>
string(13) "breakthroughs"
}
["additional_past_events"]=>
string(0) ""
}
}
}
The Latest
Insights
Our Insights highlight unique perspectives from across the food and agriculture community.
See all Insights
Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Dairy Cattle
Dr. Francisco Peñagaricano and Dr. Guillermo Martinez Boggio
Let’s Raise a Glass on National Milk Day to the Power of Agriculture Research
Krysta Harden
President and CEO U.S. Dairy Export Council
Building Team Chemistry: The Bigger Picture Behind Cows & Climate
Conor McCabe
Animal Biology Graduate Student, UC Davis
Insight on Livestock Methane Mitigation
Dr. Rod Mackie, Professor, Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
The “Good Soil Discount” — A Game Changer for U.S. Agriculture
Harley Cross
Land Core Co-founder & Director of Strategy
FFAR Vet Student Fellow Research Spotlight
Anna Schaubeck
2021 FFAR Veterinary Student Research Fellow
Celebrating Innovation on National Egg Day
Paul Montgomery
Director of Communications, United Egg Producers
How Heat Stress Impacts Swine Health
FFAR Fellow, Lauren Anderson
North Carolina State University
Dairy Cattle Metabolic Capacity: Milking It for all It’s Worth
Linda Beckett
2019-2022 FFAR Fellow
Climate change and Dairy Farming: Beating the Heat
Ananda Fontoura
2018-2021 FFAR Fellow
Research is Critical to Preventing the Next Pandemic
Tim Kurt, DVM
Scientific Program Director, October 2016- September 2022 Advanced Animal Systems
Vitamin A, Healthy Cows and Less Antibiotics
Jaime Strickland
2018-2021 FFAR Fellow
A Look at Maine Aquaculture
Tim Kurt, DVM
Scientific Program Director, October 2016- September 2022 Advanced Animal Systems
News
The latest news and updates from FFAR.
See all News
Grant Developing Tomato Resistance to Parasitic Weed
FFAR Grant to Improve Sorghum & Strengthen Nutritional Security
FFAR Names Sixth Cohort of Veterinary Fellows
FFAR Grant Unites Urban Agriculture Operations to Increase Food Security
FFAR-Funded Research to Prevent African Swine Fever Virus
Greener Cattle Initiative Opens Call for Enteric Methane Emission Research
FFAR Accepting Pre-Proposals for 2024 Seeding Solutions
FFAR Grant Provides Data on Nitrogen Management Practices in the Great Plains
FFAR & AAVMC Open Applications for 2024 FFAR Vet Fellows
Japanese Encephalitis Virus Research Protects U.S. Swine
FFAR Grant Reduces Nitrogen Inputs, Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Grant Transforms Wastewater to Crop Fertilizer
FFAR & Open Philanthropy Announce Egg-Tech Prize Finalists
ICASA Grants Seek to Address Liver Abscess Formation in Cattle
ICASA Awards Grants to Address Antimicrobial Resistance in Cattle & Swine
Cattle Industry Consortium Funds Research Aimed at Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions
SHIC Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program Funds Additional Research
Improving Layer Hen Welfare with Better Bone Health
Cattle Industry Consortium Awards First Grant to Curb Enteric Methane Emissions
New Falling Number Test Prevents Wheat Contamination, Saves Farmers Millions
Events
Join FFAR at our next event.
See all Events
Sustainable Beef Research Roadmap Workshop
Convening Event
Centennial, CO
Breakthroughs
Tools, technologies and strategies from the research we fund.
See all Breakthroughs
Unlocking Genetic Heat Tolerance in Cattle
Breakthrough for Precision Bred Adaptation of Elite Taurine Breeds of Beef & Dairy Cattle
Increased Fiber, Same Great Taste
Breakthrough for Increasing Dietary Fiber in Wheat Crop
Connecting Growers & Markets
Breakthrough for FFAR Grant Develops Tools to Predict Consumer Demand, Reduce Food Waste
Accelerating Crop Development with Improved Haploid Fertility
Breakthrough for Accelerated Development of Crops of the Future
Radiography could transform poultry breeding
Breakthrough for FFAR Awards $1.4 Million to Purdue University, University of California, Davis and University of Edinburgh Researchers to Improve Health and Productivity of Egg-Laying Hens
Research Pinpoints Why Dairy Cows Produce Less Milk in Warm Weather and Develops Nutrition-Based Solution
Breakthrough for FFAR Grant Helps Heat-Stressed Dairy Cows Weather Increasing Temperatures
Feed Additives Stop Viral Disease Spread, Researchers Find
Breakthrough for FFAR-Funded Research Finds Feed Additives Stop the Spread of Viral Diseases
Initial Successes in Ending Surgical Castration of Swine
Breakthrough for FFAR Awards $500,000 Grant to Improve Swine Health and Well-Being