Effect of night shelter during winter for dairy cows

Abstract

A study was conducted during the winters of 1969 and 1971 at Colombo, Paraná, to determine the effects of night-sheltering of dairy cows, during the winter, on milk production. In the 1969 trial, the cows maintained in pasture at night produced 13% more milk (P ≤ 0,05) than those kept in the stable. There was no significant difference in milk production between the stabled and pasture groups in the 1971 trial. These results indicate that night-sheltering, during winter, which is more expensive than the management system of no shelter, does not increase milk production under the conditions of this experiment.