Dealing with heat stress in cattle
Farmer's Weekly|February 26, 2021
Hot, humid conditions can have a drastic effect on cattle, reducing their feed intake, milk production, and weight gain. They may also be more prone to disease. Some breeds, however, cope better than others.
Dealing with heat stress in cattle

Heat stress is the body’s reaction to a combination of environmental factors: ambient temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind. In beef cattle, this stress can negatively affect production and profitability.

According to studies, temperatures above 27°C coupled with high humidity can cause heat stress in cattle. This can impair breeding efficiency by lowering milk production, reducing feed intake and limiting weight gain. In the worst-case scenario, heat stress may increase the chances of illness and even cause death.

US scientists have developed a temperature-humidity index (THI) to warn producers in time about heat stress periods in the near future. Unfortunately, wind speed, which plays an important role in cooling down cattle, is not part of the index.

The THI and the Livestock Safety Index (LSI) generate the following warnings:

This story is from the February 26, 2021 edition of Farmer's Weekly.

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This story is from the February 26, 2021 edition of Farmer's Weekly.

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