Prioritize Heat Management to Get Cattle Through Heat Wave

While crops are certainly feeling the devastating impacts of critically hot temperatures and little moisture, livestock are in danger. Farmers and ranchers should implement hot weather management strategies to keep livestock as comfortable as possible. High heat and humidity led to the sudden death of hundreds of cattle in July’s heat wave. This month’s high temperatures will likely yield similar results.

Excessive heat and humidity can lead to mortality in feedlots, as cattle dissipate heat less efficiently than other animals. Day-after-day hot conditions with minimal overnight cooling accumulate the effects of heat stress. Reducing feed activity during the hottest parts of the day, providing shades and sprinklers and ensuring water availability will be critical to keeping a healthy herd.

Read more on heat stress in cattle here.