Indice di temperatura e umidità per la valutazione delle condizioni di stress da caldo nei bovini da latte in differenti aree geografiche del Mugello (Toscana)

Climate change has direct effects on livestock productivity and future scenarios are not encouraging. Thus, it is crucial to develop strategies to reduce the detrimental effects of these environmental changes on livestock farms. Air temperature evaluation alone is not enough to assess the effects of the thermal environment on physiology, welfare, health, and productivity of farm animals. High humidity, in combination with high temperature, reduces the potential for evaporative heat loss. The Temperature Humidity Index represents the state of the art in the evaluation of heat stress conditions in dairy cattle. As part of the MILKLIMAT project, thermal comfort/stress conditions were monitored according to the THI index, inside some stables and in outdoor conditions in the lower and upper Mugello (Tuscany) during the summer season of 2020. Results show differences between the two geographic areas with more widespread heat stress conditions in the lower Mugello, even during night hours.