Cattle Losses Mount as Heat Index Tops 130 Degrees in Parts of the Plains

USDA/FPAC photos by Preston Keres

Dangerous heat and humidity are taking a serious toll on cattle across feedlots and pastures, with losses mounting from north to south despite stepped-up efforts to keep cattle cool. Heat index readings have climbed as high as 110 to 130 degrees in parts of Oklahoma and Nebraska this week, as Oklahoma State University livestock marketing specialist Dr. Derrell Peel noted the heat came on suddenly, giving cattle little time to adjust.

Losses have been especially severe in Northern feedlots, where cattle tend to be larger-framed and less suited to extreme heat, with one estimate putting the current death toll around 15,000 to 20,000 head and climbing. Forecasters expect the heat and humidity to continue into August, offering little near-term relief for cattle and producers.