Heat is hard on livestock. It can reduce intake and daily gain as well as milk production and weaning weights. To reduce livestock heat stress, it is important to provide plenty of food, water and shade and maintain good animal health.

Providing ample water helps animals regulate their body temperatures to relieve heat stress. Be sure the water is cool, clean and easily accessible. When temperatures are especially hot, livestock may not leave the comfort of shade to find water, so locate waterers to limit animal travel.

“Avoid using a pond that allows cattle wading access because the water can become warm and dirty, resulting in decreased consumption,” Bullock said. “Instead, fence ponds and offer water through a tank.”
Another good way to lessen heat stress is to provide plenty of shade for livestock, experts suggest. Periodically move portable shades to prevent trampling and muddy areas.

It is important to also check for proper operation of animal waterers. Animals will die from dehydration much quicker than they will starve to death, experts say. Be sure waterers are providing all the clean, fresh water animals want to drink.

Healthy animals can better withstand heat stress, according to a University of Kentucky livestock specialist. Producers need to pay attention to livestock health to reduce stresses from internal and external parasites and other disease challenges.

Handle all livestock only for essential procedures and perform work before sunrise, the coolest part of the day. Be sure you have adequate labor available for quick and efficient work.

Sprinker system have also proven to be effective in relieving heat stress.

Don’t forget that horses can also be affected by the summer heat. Horses have difficulty maintaining their body temperatures when asked to work in hot, humid conditions, according to Bob Coleman, University of Kentucky Extension horse specialist.

To minimize stress on horses and get the best look at cattle, ride pens or check pastures first thing in the morning. An early start will give a better indication of which cattle are actually sick and which ones are just hot.

If you do have to work a horse in the heat of the day and it gets overheated, call a veterinarian, Coleman suggests. “It may be necessary to use intravenous fluids to replace the significant amount of water lost during sweating.”

Meanwhile, move the horse into shade, fan it and spray the body with water to lower its body temperature. It is very important to give the horse small sips of water frequently to aid re-hydration. “

In areas of the country where fescue is a problem, beware of endophyte-infected tall fescue. Grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue exacerbates heat stress in cattle because the toxins cause an elevated body temperature, according to Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky Extension specialist. Decreased milk production, lower rate of weight gain, and reduced reproductive performance are the most important economic responses to fescue toxicity.

Bullock recommended diluting fescue with legumes, especially clovers. Research continually shows higher rates of gain and conception rates when legumes are a major part of fescue pastures. Another alternative is to use another grazing option such as warm season grasses.

For many areas of the country, August is typically one of the hottest months of the year. Following some timely heat stress tips can reduce the impact hot weather has on your livestock. ©