Image 1:Effect of elevated temperatures on cow
Fight against heat stress
Heat stress has become one of the major concerns for the dairy industry today. Dairy cattle have a comfort zone of 41 to 68 F°. When the ambient temperature exceeds 68°F, the cow can begin to experience heat stress that decreases cow feed intake, lower production, and reproductive performance. When cows are exposed to that stressful and unfamiliar environment, milk production in dairy cows declines instantly which results in large economic losses.
Some heat stresses are unavoidable, but the effects of these stresses can be minimized if certain management practices are followed which are economical and practical.
Option for cow cooling
Image 2: HVLS fans installed in dairy farm
Various cooling methods have been used to resolve the rising temperature problem. Installing Epoch HVLS fans in your dairy facility is your first step in providing extraordinary cooling to your cows. HVLS fans create airflow and improve the air movement in all directions of the barn and reduce the temperature. These types of fans are being incorporated by more and more dairymen to solve the comfort problem for cattle.
They are essential for reducing summer heat stress and allow the cows to ventilate comfortably.
Benefits of Epoch HVLS Fan Over Traditionally LVHS Fan
Epoch HVLS Fan differs from the low volume high speed (LVHS) fans in terms of diameter, rotational speed, and performance. HVLS fans move a tremendous amount of air as compared to LVHS fans while demanding far less amount of electricity. The use of Epoch HVLS fans in the resting and feeding areas improves cow comfort. Maximum airflow and Less energy consumption benefits of Epoch HVLS fans can permit their use in new diaries and existing farms. Electrical power saving can benefit both the dairy producer and the general public. An effective way for cow cooling is to create a breeze through the barn to get a windchill effect. An HVLS fan works on the principle that accelerates the evaporation of moisture saturated boundary layers surrounding the cow body by moving a large amount of air. The air movement around the cow increases the convective heat transfer, enhancing evaporative cooling, and reduces the temperature of the cow. The HVLS fan produces a column of air that moves down and creates a horizontal floor jet. This provides excellent ventilation throughout the entire space and this can reduce odor. This horizontal floor jet depends on the size and speed of the fan.
Epoch HVLS fans come up with the latest PMSM (Permanent magnet synchronous motor) technology which provides the largest airflow with the least amount of power consumption. Epoch HVLS Fans are the quietest in the world operating with the lowest sound signature of less than 35 dB, maintaining a quiet barn that improves the behavioral response of dairy cows. The unique airfoil blade design of Epoch HVLS fans creates massive airflow that helps you to cool a large number of cows.
Combination of HVLS fans and sprinklers
Sprinkler system is used to wet the cow’s hair coat. In this case, the fan is used to provide fresh air to the hair coat so additional applied water by sprinkler system can be evaporated. If fresh air is not provided to the hair coat, then the evaporation process will be sufficiently
hindered to the point where no additional evaporative cooling will take place. Excess addition of water with inadequate air exchange and airflow around the cow will cause a problem. Therefore a good air exchange and movement are to be provided and that is made possible by Epoch HVLS fans.
Where should the Epoch HVLS fans be located?
The fans should be located over cow feeding and resting areas along with the holding area. Other factors such as any obstacles or vents need to be considered. In free-stall barns, this means rows of Epoch HVLS fans should be installed at the center over the feeding cows and also over the cows laying in each row of free-stall. If fans are not centered over the feeding or resting cow, it can result in the insufficient airflow within critical areas of barns.
Where should I start?
When locating fans at your facility, use the following guideline presented in order of importance.
- Holding area
- Milking area
- Calving area
- Close-up dry cows
- Sick/treated cows
- Fresh cows
- High producing cows
- Low producer cows
What size of the fan should be considered?
To get the target airflow at cow level you have to select the exact size of the fan. The size of your space will help you to determine the type of fan you should purchase. The Epoch HVLS fans are offered from 8 ft to 24 ft in diameter. Airflow varies with the diameter of the fan, larger the fan, larger the airflow you can get. EPOCH Team can help you to select the appropriate size of the fans to optimize your cost and power consumption.
If you want to know more about the technical specification of each size diameter fan in detail, you can visit our website,
References