Supplementary Files
Keywords
dairies
milk
productivity
voltage
AE019
Categories
How to Cite
Abstract
A stray electrical current passing through a cow's body may cause reduced milk production and health problems. The electrical current can be caused by poor or faulty wiring, faulty equipment, improper grounding, or originate off the farm and be introduced through the grounded neutral wiring network. Stray voltages are usually low alternating current voltages on the grounded neutral wires of the farm wiring system. Power suppliers may use the terms neutral-to-ground voltage and neutral-to-earth voltage to refer to the problem. Lost milk production and the costs for treatment of the cow's health problems can lead to substantial economic losses. This 3-page fact sheet is a minor revision written by J. A. Watson, R. A. Bucklin, and D. R. Bray, and published by the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, November 2019.
References
Appleman, R. D., and R. J. Gustafson. 1985. “Source of stray voltage and effect on cow health and performance.” Journal of Dairy Science 68(6): 1554–1567. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(85)80994-2
Cloud, H. A., R. D. Appleman, and R. J. Gustafson. 1987. “Stray voltage problems with dairy cows.” University of Minnesota Extension. Accessed on November 20, 2019. https://www.qualitycounts.umn.edu/sites/qualitycounts.umn.edu/files/r-ef-11.pdf
Soderholm, L. H. 1982. “Stray-voltage problems in dairy milking parlors.” Transactions of ASAE: 1763–1768. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.33803