Why cattle are more vulnerable to heat stress
Heat stress occurs when environmental temperature and humidity exceed an animal’s capacity to regulate its core temperature. Typically, this becomes a problem for cattle beyond around 25°C, although this varies by breed, production level and the ability of individual animals to adapt.
Cattle are particularly vulnerable to heat stress because they’re warm-blooded animals and need to maintain a constant body temperature of +/– 38.8°C. While dealing with rising ambient temperatures, cattle need to manage the substantial metabolic heat generated through their own digestion (especially from forage). They have limited natural cooling mechanisms to achieve this, compared to other livestock.
Signs of heat stress range from an increased respiration rate and panting. And in extreme cases, staggering and collapse. Nearly all cattle will be less active and will eat less when temperatures rise, which will have an impact on their health and productivity. Dairy cows produce less milk, beef cattle gain weight more slowly and reproductive performance declines in both. Heat stress can also compromise immune systems and make cattle more susceptible to disease. Chronic or severe heat stress can be fatal.
GoNutri Energy helps support energy balance, milk-fat production and body condition when cattle face hotter conditions.
Managing heat stress
Producers have traditionally managed heat stress by providing the basics of shade, good access to fresh water and increased ventilation for cattle kept inside. But with the growing impact of climate change, producers need additional solutions and support.
GoNutri is already working with farmers and feed mills in the Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia region (AMESA) where temperatures in summer regularly exceed 40°C. Dr Taha Nadeem is our Regional Sales Manager and has experience in Pakistan, where summers can bring temperatures as high as 50°C.
“As soon as temperatures rise, the cows – which are mostly Australian and American breeds – will eat less. So, their energy balance is off, and their milk production will start dropping along with other body parameters,” says Dr Taha. “But we have clear evidence that when GoNutri Energy is added into their feed, the energy balance is not disturbed, and optimal milk production is maintained. This is a direct result of supplementing with palmitic acid.”
It’s results like this, together with Dr Taha’s understanding of local farming conditions, that helped GoNutri secure a 20% market share in Pakistan after just one year in the market and grow this share to 35% in year two. As GoNutri Energy is naturally high in palmitic acid, it is especially popular with corporate dairy farms in the AMESA region that can have more than 30,000 animals in one place.
Here is how it helps cattle combat heat stress:
Increased energy without increasing heat load
GoNutri Energy provides highly concentrated energy (99% fat) that cattle can digest efficiently. This is particularly valuable during heat stress because cattle typically reduce their feed intake when hot. The high energy density means they can meet their energy needs with less total feed consumption, reducing metabolic heat from digestion that adds to their heat burden.
Maintains production during reduced intake
When cattle are heat-stressed and eating less, they often enter negative energy balance. GoNutri Energy helps to maintain milk production and body condition even when voluntary feed intake drops.
Rumen-inert properties
Because GoNutri Energy behaves inertly in the rumen (and doesn’t disturb ruminal fermentation or fibre digestibility), it doesn’t interfere with the animal’s ability to digest their base diet. The neutral smell and taste also mean it’s less likely to suppress feed intake during stressful periods.
Improved body condition and fertility
Heat stress often compromises reproductive performance. GoNutri Energy boosts body condition and fertility, helping to counter some of the reproductive issues associated with heat stress.
Economic benefits during challenging periods
The consistent, predictable results from feeding with GoNutri Energy make it easier to manage nutrition during the varying conditions that often accompany heat stress periods.
The challenge of heat stress is expanding
Cattle are particularly vulnerable to heat stress because they’re warm-blooded animals and need to maintain a constant body temperature of +/– 38.8°C. While dealing with rising ambient temperatures, cattle need to manage the substantial metabolic heat generated through their own digestion (especially from forage). They have limited natural cooling mechanisms to achieve this, compared to other livestock.
“The evidence from the European Environment Agency shows Europe is warming faster than the global average,” says Alicia. “Here, temperatures are up from between 2.19 to 2.26°C above pre-industrial levels. Unless the UN’s urgent ambition to reduce emissions is achieved, temperatures seem certain to keep rising and the long-term target of maintaining global temperatures within 1.5°C of pre-industrial levels will not be met.”
“In Spain especially, the summers are already hotter and last longer than some other European countries. Producers are seeing a reduction in the amount of food their cattle eat, with corresponding reductions in all the productive parameters. As a result, we are seeing a significant rise in GoNutri Energy sales,” Alicia explains.
Historically, ambient temperatures during the UK summer would not have been considered a heat stress risk. But even there there’s growing evidence that the UK summer can also cause depressed feed intakes, lower milk yields, reduced fertility and decreased immunity, leading to conditions such as mastitis. Again, this is likely to increase with rising global temperatures.
Another benefit Alicia has seen is in cattle during early lactation, when they inevitably experience a negative energy balance as energy requirements for milk synthesis exceed voluntary feed intake.
As temperatures rise, maintaining energy balance become important to help cattle stay productive, healthy, and resilient in changing conditions.
“This energy deficit not only limits milk production but also increases body reserve mobilisation and compromises metabolic and reproductive health,” explains Alicia. “Supplementing palmitic acid during this critical period provides a highly efficient and concentrated source of net energy for lactation without increasing dietary bulk. GoNutri Energy delivers this energy in a highly digestible form, making it particularly effective for post-calving cows with reduced appetite and limited rumen capacity. This characteristic also makes it especially valuable under heat stress conditions, where dry matter intake is further depressed.”
GoNutri Energy. Another way we are putting farmers first
Reduced feed intake during hot weather makes energy-dense nutrition important for maintaining dairy cow performance
At GoNutri we’re proud to help farming futures grow. We focus our support on farmers because every healthy animal and every healthy ecosystem begins with them. Our team listens carefully to the challenges farmers face, provides proven sustainable solutions and offers dependable delivery too.
From small family farms to large commercial operations, we’re already working across some of the world’s most challenging conditions and diverse markets, where we share our passion for problem-solving. We bridge the gap between what’s scientifically proven and what’s practically achievable on the ground and will continue to bring innovative ideas to life, align them with market demands and customer needs.
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Heat stress puts pressure on cattle performance, causing feed intake to drops and disrupting the cattle’s energy balance.
Explore this article to see how palmitic acid delivers concentrated, reliable energy for livestock.
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