Record Heat in July Claims Hundreds of Cattle

July was the hottest month on record in the U.S. and worldwide. The record heat and humidity took a toll on crops and livestock. The severe weather claimed the lives of hundreds of cattle in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. While hot weather is dangerous for any cattle in the above-1,000-pound range, producers in Western Iowa say they lost lighter cattle closer to 700 pounds. According to the National Weather Service, the heat index climbed to 117 degrees Fahrenheit on July 28.

While the death toll isn’t massive, producers say the deaths proved unusual. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association says the extra humidity hindered the animals’ ability to weather the heat. In response to the heat-related deaths, Kansas State University has updated its online weather tool that uses National Weather Service forecasts to predict comfort levels for cattle. The tool will now predict comfort levels week-by-week instead of day-by-day.

Read more on record heat and cattle losses here.