Agricultural News
Try These Tips to Water Down the Risks of Heat Stress
Wed, 03 Aug 2016 12:15:29 CDT
During this time in the middle of summer, heat stress can quickly become a very real and dangerous problem for cattle herds. Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with Kansas State University Extension Veterinarian AJ Tarpoff to find out more about identifying and reducing heat stress.
Several factors including temperature, humidity, wind currents and sun radiation all greatly contribute to the overall effects of heat stress. It's when cattle are unable to cool down periodically that really compounds the impact of these factors, causing major problems.
"One of the seldom talked about and one of the most important is actually the cumulative heat load," Tarpoff said. "What that means is when we have multiple days of heat stress events, these animals never dissipate all the heat from the day before."
Dr. Tarpoff suggests keeping an eye on weather reports to help anticipate potential heat stress events. If you expect to endure one, he says you can identify affected cattle by certain telltale behaviors, like deep breathing and panting, slobbering and congregating in shaded areas and around or in water.
The most effective tool in reducing heat stress? H2O, Tarpoff says.
"Water is the most important in dealing with heat stress," Tarpoff said. "During heat stress incidents, these animal's water demands for the body can actually increase by 50 percent. This means every animal in that herd, may require upwards of 20 or more gallons of water per head per day."
According to Dr. Tarpoff, recommended standards suggest two to three inches of linear trough space per animal. He says to keep your cattle's water clean, pure and cool.
View today's Cattle Comfort Index by clicking here.
Listen to more of Dr. AJ Tarpoff's tips to managing heat stress on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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