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UW Madison researcher aims to help cows stay cool and comfortable

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UW College of Ag and LIfe Sciences research project helps cows keep their cool

Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, talks with Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, before conducting an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at the dairy in Watertown, Wis.
Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, talks with Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, before conducting an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at the dairy in Watertown, Wis. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS

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Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, talks with Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, before conducting an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at the dairy in Watertown, Wis. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS
Collaborators Mario Mondaca Duarte, left, a research associate and ventilation specialist with the The Dairyland Initiative in the School of Veterinary Medicine, and Jennifer Van Os, right, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, prepare an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The UW–Madison researchers are using anemometers, foreground, placed at various points in the structure to measure airflow speeds.
Collaborators Mario Mondaca Duarte, left, a research associate and ventilation specialist with the The Dairyland Initiative in the School of Veterinary Medicine, and Jennifer Van Os, right, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, prepare an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The UW–Madison researchers are using anemometers, foreground, placed at various points in the structure to measure airflow speeds. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS

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Collaborators Mario Mondaca Duarte, left, a research associate and ventilation specialist with the The Dairyland Initiative in the School of Veterinary Medicine, and Jennifer Van Os, right, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, prepare an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The UW–Madison researchers are using anemometers, foreground, placed at various points in the structure to measure airflow speeds. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS
Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, looks over floorplans with Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, before conducting an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at the dairy in Watertown, Wis.,
Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, looks over floorplans with Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, before conducting an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at the dairy in Watertown, Wis., Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS

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Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, looks over floorplans with Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, before conducting an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at the dairy in Watertown, Wis., Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS
Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, poses for a picture near milking parlor showers that have been installed and are in use at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The showers, which help cool the cows on warm days, are aimed at their backs and away from their udders and faces.
Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, poses for a picture near milking parlor showers that have been installed and are in use at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The showers, which help cool the cows on warm days, are aimed at their backs and away from their udders and faces. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS

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Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, poses for a picture near milking parlor showers that have been installed and are in use at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The showers, which help cool the cows on warm days, are aimed at their backs and away from their udders and faces. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS
Milking parlor showers spray down on cows as they are milked at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The showers, which help cool the cows on warm days, are aimed at their backs and away from their udders and faces.
Milking parlor showers spray down on cows as they are milked at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The showers, which help cool the cows on warm days, are aimed at their backs and away from their udders and faces. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS

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Milking parlor showers spray down on cows as they are milked at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. The showers, which help cool the cows on warm days, are aimed at their backs and away from their udders and faces. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS
Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, walks through a cross-ventilated barn at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, while conducting an airflow study at the dairy in Watertown, Wis.
Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, walks through a cross-ventilated barn at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, while conducting an airflow study at the dairy in Watertown, Wis. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS

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Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, walks through a cross-ventilated barn at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, while conducting an airflow study at the dairy in Watertown, Wis. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS
Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, affixes a remote temperature and relative humidity sensor to a screened opening in a cross-ventilated barn at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, while conducting an airflow study at the dairy in Watertown, Wis.
Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, affixes a remote temperature and relative humidity sensor to a screened opening in a cross-ventilated barn at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, while conducting an airflow study at the dairy in Watertown, Wis. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS

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Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, affixes a remote temperature and relative humidity sensor to a screened opening in a cross-ventilated barn at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, while conducting an airflow study at the dairy in Watertown, Wis. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS
A cow is shown with motion sensors worn on the hind legs. Van Os and her students are monitoring the cows’ heat load (core body temperature, respiration rate, panting, surface temperature on the udder) as well as daily lying and standing times. "Lie-down time" is a well known indicator of cow comfort.
A cow is shown with motion sensors worn on the hind legs. Van Os and her students are monitoring the cows’ heat load (core body temperature, respiration rate, panting, surface temperature on the udder) as well as daily lying and standing times. "Lie-down time" is a well known indicator of cow comfort. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS

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A cow is shown with motion sensors worn on the hind legs. Van Os and her students are monitoring the cows’ heat load (core body temperature, respiration rate, panting, surface temperature on the udder) as well as daily lying and standing times. "Lie-down time" is a well known indicator of cow comfort. Michael P. King/UW-Madison CALS

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    Jennifer Van Os, UW–Madison assistant professor of dairy science and extension animal welfare specialist, talks with Jordan Matthews, one of four partners at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, before conducting an airflow study in a cross-ventilated barn at the dairy in Watertown, Wis.