As the heat index rises, you might be surprised to learn that people aren’t the only ones affected by the intense temperatures of a smoldering summer’s day: Your cows could be feeling the burn, too!
Certain factors increase your cows’ susceptibility to heat stress: genetics and color, health, production status and previous exposure. These factors in conjunction with extreme weather conditions can throw off a cow’s heat balance, which maintains the body’s temperature, creating a risk to the health and well-being of the animal.
Monitor Heat Online
The USDA’s chief scientific research agency, the Agricultural Research Service, developed an online model for monitoring this potentially hazardous weather. The model uses seven-day forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service. The forecasts include four weather parameters: temperature, humidity, wind speed and cloud cover.
This data is combined with an estimate of cattle heat-stress response to predict an animal’s stress level. All of this information is then translated into a color-coded map that forecasts general stress-level trends for the duration of the forecast as well as anticipated peak heat-stress categories for each day. The variability from one cow to another impedes the model’s ability to calculate individual stress levels, but does allow for a general prognosis.
- Monitor the weather
- Prepare a summer feeding program using a low-heat increment diet to feed cattle during heat waves
- Ensure there are no restrictions to air movement such as hay storage locations or wind breaks
- Check stock tanks to ensure adequate water
- Consider the use of additional water tanks
- Consider added shade over sick pens and other vulnerable animals
- Remove manure build up from around water tanks, feed bunks and under shade
- Do not move animals
- Observe animals for signs of heat stress
- Consider wetting the animals or the ground
- When wetting the animals use large droplets (150 micron diameter sprinklers), not a fine mist. Wet the animals to the hide; the water should run off the animals. Wetting is efficient where there is wind and low relative humidity