Effect of false ceiling on microclimatic variables of crossbred cattle during rainy season

Abstract

The present study was conducted to find out the effect of false ceiling materials on microclimatic variables  of crossbred (Vrindavani) cattle shed during rainy season. Twenty four crossbred cattle were randomly  distributed equally into three groups (8 in each) on the basis of their average milk yield, parity and body  weight. Control group (T0) animals were kept under asbestos roof without any ceiling insulation, while  modified shed had false ceiling of Expanded Polyethylene (EPE) sheet (T1) and paddy straw thatch (T2) under  asbestos roof. The average maximum temperature was significantly (p<0.05) lower in T2 (33.50±0.16°C) and  T1 (33.67±0.17°C) in comparison to T0 (35.12±0.21°C). The average relative humidity (RH) % at 2:00 PM  was significantly (p<0.05) higher inT1 (75.72±0.77) and T2 (75.98±0.75) than T0 (73.28±0.82). The overall  THI at 2:00 PM and overall average temperature humidity index (THI) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in  T2 (85.69±0.16 and 83.61±0.20) and T1 (85.84±0.16 and 83.73±0.20) as compared to T0 (87.32±0.20 and  84.67±0.24). The findings of the present study revealed that false ceiling installed underneath the asbestos  roof might have blocked emitted radiation considerably. Thus utilization of paddy straw thatch and EPE  sheet as false ceiling under asbestos roof may help in providing relatively comfortable microclimate to the  animals in comparison to simple asbestos roof shed. Ceiling insulation could observe complementary effect  in reducing heat stress in dairy animals when utilized with other heat amelioration measures.