Organization and management of welfare and comfort of dairy cows in free-range systems

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of shading structures on exercise yards on the behavior, comfort, and clinical parameters of Holstein dairy cows. Experimental research was conducted in August 2025 at a commercial farm in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine. The average daily air temperature was 21.4 °C. Between 10:00 and 18:00, the temperature-humidity index indicated heat stress levels classified as “alert” and “danger”. For comparative analysis, two experimental groups of cows in their second, third, and fourth lactations were formed. The first group (n = 52) was kept on exercise yards equipped with shade structures, while the second group (n = 56) was kept on yards without protective shading. The use of shading on open exercise yards positively influenced the thermal environment in resting areas, the duration of behavioral responses, and clinical parameters under conditions of high heat stress. Throughout the day, the minimum temperature difference between the housing variants was 1.2 °C at 10:00, and the maximum difference was 5.9 °C at 17:00. From 12:00 to 18:45 (until the cows were moved for milking), the temperature difference remained above 4.4 °C. As air temperature increased, the number of cows standing by the drinkers also increased, while the proportion of cows resting in a lying position and consuming feed decreased. Better results were observed in the group housed on shaded yards. During peak heat stress (14:00 to 16:00), the average proportion of cows resting under shade was 28.85%, compared to only 24.36 % without shade. During periods of elevated heat stress, cows kept on shaded exercise yards exhibited lower skin temperatures compared to those without shading. The minimum temperature difference between groups was 0.9 °C at 10:00, and the maximum was 3.5 °C at 15:00. Similar temporal dynamics were observed in temperatures under lying animals, with the smallest difference between housing types at 2.3 °C at 10:00 and the largest at 3.7 °C at 15:00.