Intensive livestock systems for dairy cows.

Abstract This article gives an overview on several aspects of intensive farming system for dairy cows. Focus is given on how heat stress affects production, health and reproduction in dairy cows and the measures that can be used to mitigate it. Topics discussed also include seasonal production patterns, estimating thermal loads on animals using the temperature humidity index, strategies to reduce the impact of heat in dairy cattle facilities, water availability, shade, orientation of naturally ventilated free stalls, taking advantage of natural ventilation, cow cooling, providing a cooler environment for the cow, using multiple methods to cool cows, considerations for dry lots and desert barns, mechanically ventilated free stalls, managing four-row naturally ventilated free stall barns, holding pen cooling and bottlenecks to cow cooling.