As the dairy industry faces the challenges of rising temperatures, a new wave of research is bringing hope to farmers and improving the welfare of dairy calves. Grace Larsen, UW-Madison Graduate Student has been helping to conduct this research and says their research explores both pre- and post-birth heat stress, aiming to improve calf welfare and enhance productivity on farms.

The team's studies have uncovered several challenges that pre-wean dairy calves face during high temperatures, such as decreased milk intake and increased thermoregulatory behavior. "With the decrease in intake, calves are more at risk to develop diseases and experience stunted growth due to insufficient nutrients," explained Larsen. "We've also identified what we call the 'hidden impacts' of heat stress, which affect the calves internally and lead to reduced milk production in their first lactation."