A-SHED Project Case Study: Innovate UK Dairy Heat Stress Research


Project at a glance:

  • Project: A-SHED (Analysis of Scottish Housed Environments for Dairy) is a 2-year, £1 million Innovate UK funded research project (2025–2026).

  • Partners: Smartbell, in partnership with Galebreaker and SRUC, across 25 Scottish and North England dairy farms.

  • Key Finding: Scottish dairy sheds frequently exceed THI 74 (severe heat stress threshold = THI 72), reaching peaks of THI 84. A 5-point overnight THI drop is required for cows to shed accumulated heat load and recover milk yield.



What is the A-SHED Project?


The A-SHED project (Analysis of Scottish Housed Environments for Dairy) is a groundbreaking agricultural research initiative funded by Innovate UK as part of a £1 million competitive grant.


Developing over a two-year period (monitoring the summers of 2025 and 2026), the project brings together Smartbell, Galebreaker, and SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) to evaluate livestock housing microclimates across nearly 25 commercial dairy farms in Scotland and Northern England.


Project Objectives:


  1. Develop Real-Time Tools: Deploy and validate real-time, data-driven heat-stress monitoring systems (HealTHI) for livestock producers.

  2. Evaluate Barn Architecture: Investigate how building orientation, natural/mechanical ventilation, roofing materials, and Victorian vs. modern architectural designs impact interior Temperature-Humidity Index (THI).

  3. Futureproof Infrastructure: Establish climate-adaptive, industry-wide building standards for British livestock housing facing shifting 21st-century weather patterns.



Why is Heat Stress Monitoring Urgent for UK Dairy Farms?


UK climate projections from the Met Office indicate that peak summer temperatures could rise by 4–7°C by the 2050s compared to 1990 baselines. In Southern and Central UK regions, the frequency of consecutive days exceeding 30°C is projected to increase sixteenfold.


Because 50% of existing UK livestock housing lacks adequate ventilation capacity for modern high-yielding herds, summer microclimates create severe economic and animal welfare hits:


Impact AreaBiological EffectFinancial / Yield LossMilk VolumeReduced Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and altered rumen functionLoss of ~0.85L to 2.2kg per cow/day during mild-to-moderate THI events (Haskell et al., 2023; Chen et al., 2024)FertilityShorter, subtle standing heats; embryonic lossExtended calving intervals costing ~£212 per cow annually (Nickerson, 2014)Overall Farm ImpactAccumulated heat load & late-summer lameness~£31,000 annual loss for an average 148-cow herd



What is THI (Temperature-Humidity Index) in Cattle Housing?


The Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) is a single metric that integrates ambient air temperature and relative humidity to quantify the actual thermal environmental load experienced by cattle.


While ambient weather forecasts measure external air, in-shed THI measures the true microclimate inside the barn where stagnant air, body heat, and moisture accumulate.



How Does Smartbell’s HealTHI System Solve This Problem?


Developed by Smartbell using time-series analysis and machine learning, HealTHI is a commercial-grade heat stress monitoring platform. It pairs regional weather modeling with IP65-rated, wireless in-shed sensors to give dairy producers real-time microclimate visibility.


Key HealTHI Technical Specifications:


  • 24/7 Microclimate Dashboards: Visualizes hour-by-hour THI exposure in cubicle sheds, parlours, and calf housing.

  • Proactive Early Warnings: Automated SMS and push alerts trigger before cows show physical panting or drop in bulk tank volume.

  • Zero Shed Wi-Fi Infrastructure: Long-range gateway plugs into the farm office internet and covers a 400m yard radius.

  • 3-Year Sensor Lifespan: Rugged, ammonia-resistant sensors operate on a 3-year sealed battery life without requiring frequent recharging.

  • Audit-Ready Compliance Reporting: Generates exportable environmental THI logs to satisfy milk buyer contract sustainability and welfare audits.



What Are the Key Findings from the A-SHED Study So Far?


Data collected across Scottish and North England trial farms during the 2025–2026 seasons revealed critical insights regarding northern herd acclimatization:


  1. Extreme Indoor THI Spikes: Even in cooler Scottish climates, winter-focused shed designs trapped heat, causing interior THI levels to regularly hit THI 74, with recorded peaks reaching THI 84 (well above the severe heat stress threshold of THI 72).

  2. Lower Acclimatization Thresholds: Northern UK dairy herds acclimatized to cooler climates demonstrate physiological heat stress at lower THI thresholds than previously recognized in international literature.

  3. The Importance of Overnight Cooling: Data proved that a decrease of at least 5 THI points overnight (compared to the daytime average) allows cows to shed accumulated heat, rest, and recover. On one trial farm, a 10 THI point overnight drop enabled cows to recoup 1.24 kg of milk yield per cow per day.





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Protect your herd’s milk yield, fertility, and welfare before the next heatwave.


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