In experiment 1, fourteen cows were blocked for milk yields and balanced for days in lactation. Treatments were: (1) Air conditioning (AC), five cows; (2) Evaporative cooling (EC), four cows; and (3) Conventional shade (S), five cows. Sequential samples were taken for 8 h at 12 min intervals starting at 2200 and then at hourly intervals for 13 h. Serum was assayed for insulin, thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and cortisol using a double-antibody radioimmunoassay procedure. Free fatty acids (FFA) were determined in serum by an enzymatic method. In experiment 2, ten cows were blocked for milk yields and days in lactation. Treatments were: (1) Evaporative cooling (EC), five cows; and (2) conventional shade (S), five cows. Blood was drawn at 60 and 90 d of lactation. Blood sampling, hormone and FFA assays were carried out as in experiment 1. Sequential samples were taken for 8 h at 12 min intervals starting at 2300 and then at hourly intervals from 1030 to 1830. In experiment 1, insulin was depressed (P <.05) treatment effects for T3 in either experiment. There were significant treatment differences (P <.05) in respiration rates and body temperatures in experiment 1. Shade were higher than AC or EC cows. These studies demonstrated that summer heat stress depressed insulin and increased FFA with variable effects on T4 and cortisol but no effect on T3.

One hundred and twenty lactating Holstein cows in mid-lactation were offered diets varying in protein level and degradability at two locations during hot and moderate weather. Treatments were: (1) High protein (19%), high degradability (65%); (2) High protein (19%), medium degradability (40%); (3) Medium protein (15.5%), high degradability (65%); (4) Medium protein (15.5%), medium degradability (40%). Diets were individually fed during hot weather at the University of Arizona Dairy Farm and contained 38.4% alfalfa hay, 12.4% cottonseed hulls, 9.8% whole cottonseed, and 39.4% concentrate (dry matter). Diets were group fed during moderate weather at the Brigham Young University Dairy Farm, Provo, Ut, and contained 31.3% corn silage, 14% alfalfa haylage, 9.4% whole cottonseed and 45.3% concentrate (dry matter). Average daily ambient temperatures were 35.1°C for hot and 26.8°C for moderate weather locations. Fat-corrected milk (3.5%, 2 x milkings) and milk persistency were lower for treatment 1 than other treatments. For the respective treatments during hot weather means were: 23.4, 26.6, 28.5, 28.4 kg/d; 83.2, 91.2, 90.9, 90.3%; and for moderate weather means were: (3 x milkings): 34.7, 31.8, 32.2, 32.4 kg/d; 97.0, 93.4, 92.1, 90.3%. Dry matter intakes during hot weather were 21.5, 21.9, 23.3, and 23.1 kg/d. Respiration rate and rectal temperature during hot weather were: 90.1, 87.9, 90.9, 94.7 counts/min; 39.0, 39.3, 39.3, 39.5°C and for moderate weather: 61.2, 58.2, 55.5, 67.4 counts/min; 38.8, 38.6, 38.7, 38.8°C. Serum T₃,T₄ and cortisol were generally unaffected by treatment, but were depressed during hot weather. Serum glucose was not significantly affected by treatments at either environmental locations. Animals consumed more water with highly degradable protein diets at each location along with consuming more water during thermal stress. These data show that 3.5% fat-corrected milk and milk persistency are significantly affected (P <.01; P <.025) by rations high in protein of high degradability during heat stress.