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| Cattle respiring to cool off |
“As uncomfortable as we are during
the heat of the day, it is important to remember cattle generally do not handle
heat as well as humans,” according to Dr. Rick Machen, Professor and Texas
AgriLife Extension Service Specialist. Heat stress is a function of
temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and solar radiation.
The core body temperature of cattle
does not peak until two hours after the peak in ambient temperature, which
often comes at five o’clock or later. Cattle need at least six hours to
dissipate the heat accumulated during the day. Consequently, night-time cooling
is essential for managing heat stress. Warm humid nights with no breeze
following a plus 100-degree day pose a real challenge for cattle.
Machen offered the following tips for
managing livestock during times of potential heat stress.
2. Do not work cattle in
the evening of a heat stressed day.
3. Wait time in holding
pens should not exceed 30 minutes.
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| Cattle under a shade |
4. Provide shade and plenty
of clean fresh cool drinking water.
5. Do not allow extremely thirsty cattle free choice access to water.
Though rare, water intoxication can happen and can quickly result in death.
6. Consider shifting
supplementation and feeding schedules to daylight hours.
7. Do not feed large
quantities of feed or high quality hay once daily. Heat associated with
digestion can push heat stressed cattle over the edge.
8. Control biting flies (to
minimize congregation of livestock).
In the advanced stages, heat stress
is a medical emergency. Symptoms that warrant immediate attention by a
veterinarian include: respiration rate above 100 breaths per minute, open mouth
breathing with tongue protruding and pushing with flanks when breathing.
Stockmen observing these symptoms should contact their veterinarian
immediately.
As livestock owners develop drought
management plans, they need not overlook the importance of protecting the
natural resources. Dr. Machen said. “If the pasture has little forage to offer
and managers are feeding livestock, they should seriously consider putting
stock in well-watered and shaded small pastures or traps to protect the
range/forage resources.”
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