Cooling pond issue raises big stink: Texas dairy producers, officials gather to set operational guidelines

By KRISTY HEMMINGSEN | East Texas Edition

February 28, 2002 -- Due to a decision by a state agency, many dairy producers throughout the state fear they may not be able to use their cooling ponds at the arrival of this year's warm weather, and possibly never again.

So far, the ongoing cooling pond issue has not been resolved, but the first steps to a possible solution have been taken, including a meeting in Dallas on Feb. 22.

Controversy of high magnitude broke-out last fall after an inspection of a dairy; viewed an off-season cooling pond and discovered it to be filled with stagnant, unclean water.

As a result, Texas Department of Health (TDH) order the state's dairy farmers to immediately cease the operation of all cooling ponds, and also said the ponds were to be either drained, filled, or made inaccessible to cattle until they are replaced with an approved design.

TDH also warned dairy producers, that failure to do so, would violate 4r of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) and their permit would be suspended.

In one attempt to have the TDH ruling reversed, furious dairy producers came together for a meeting Feb. 22 at the Texas A&M University Research and Extension Center in Dallas. The primary purpose of the meeting was to give dairy producers an opportunity to develop a description of a satisfactory cooling pond that they "could live with" and then submit the proposed guidelines to TDH.

Guidelines were developed by the Dairy Practice Committee of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association which met Feb. 7 for their semi-annual meeting, commented Dr. Mac Glaess, a Hopkins County veterinarian who serves as chairman of the committee. The committee members developed a resolution that determined properly-maintained cooling ponds are not detrimental to dairy cow health. The resolution was then passed by TVMA.

Here are the guidelines as established by the dairy farmers present at the Feb. 22 meeting:

Definition: a cooling pond should defined as a man-made structure, built for cooling cows which is maintained by an addition of fresh water to an effective water level based on the number of animals and evaporation in a given environment.

Frequency of cleaning: to be done at least once a year, and will include sludge and water.

Water source: is to be fresh water, and not from a lagoon.

Design criteria: minimum square footage per cow - 40 to 50

Depth - there should be a minimum of three-feet deep

Ingress/Egress - the entry and exit of the structure should be made in such a way that the cow does not get muddy.

Cow cleanliness: a cow will come out clean below the water line, and as clean as herds with shade.

Standing water: (something the PMO already says "no" to) should be a dynamic system by adding water to maintain the water level based on the cow's movements and it's environmental conditions.

Water Flow: maintain water level (at least 3ft.)

Water dispensation: to be based on TNRCC and TSSWCB regulations.

One of the original steps the dairy industry took towards fighting the TDH ruling was when Extension Dairy Specialist Ellen Jordan headed a distribution of surveys that were mailed to all dairy producers a few months ago. The survey was to help summarize Somatic Cell Count (SCC) figures of dairies with cooling ponds to prove the environmental safeness of the ponds.

The general data of the surveys was based on location, size, months used, how frequently water is added, were cows able to access the ponds on a continual basis or not, and additional data from the Milk Market Administrator.

At the Feb. 22 cooling pond meeting, Jordan made a presentation of the survey's results regarding SCC levels in herds where cooling ponds are used in the summer compared to herds where they are not used.

Jordan pointed out that the results showed that SCC changes were similar or improved in the summer in herds with cooling ponds compared to herds without cooling ponds. "At this point, we are approaching significance," she explained.

But, she added, "We are going to have to do further analysis to incorporate all regions of the state before we can really evaluate frequency of water addition. And we have insufficient representation of some areas of the state with certain frequencies which prohibits drawing adequate conclusions at this time."

Jordan also said she does not recommend anyone investing any more money into cooling ponds within this state until this issue is resolved.

The cooling pond guidelines and, eventually the total summary of data yet to be gathered, will be written into proposal form by Jordan and then submitted to TDH as soon as possible.

Gene Wright of TDH, also present at the recent cooling pond meeting, told producers that the cooling pond ruling affects everybody. He also stated, "I did not know we would stir-up quite as much as we did. And, unfortunately, I don't think we will be able to come to a conclusion soon." He said a solution is going to take longer than anyone likes.

David Bray, a renowned cooling pond expert from the University of Florida, was an invited speaker, as well. His purpose was to offer producers detailed criteria on what he considers a cooling pond to be and how it should be built and/or maintained

Bray said currently 32 percent of the dairies in Florida have cooling ponds. He also said there seems to be a growing interest in these ponds and theorized that more will most likely be built. And so far, there are no legal problems concerning the use of such ponds.

Bray also added, "Cooling ponds give smaller dairies a chance to compete with larger operations; improve milk quality and lowers clinical mastitis; improves the health and longevity of the dairy herd; and can help to improve the producer's income."

(Wright was quick to point out that, Bray's information and opinions were not to be considered scientific data.)

The TVMA's dairy committee also noted that, in their opinion, these ponds ensure a dynamic fluid environment, thus the prevention of a stagnant water situation. And based on their definition, they said cooling ponds are not stagnant pools of water and therefore are not in violation of item 4r of the PMO.

The committee also said they strongly disagree with the TDH ruling; feel it is unfair to other owners of such ponds who have not yet had their ponds inspected. They claim cooling ponds are not only a healthy situation for cows but they also help to cut down cow-stress, and help heighten milk production and quality.