With the expected heat wave to hit the west coast I'm worried about the possibility of losing cattle. I know ultimately that there's not much if anything that can be done to prevent it. But any suggestions on how to minimize the risk? Small herd of dexter cattle, from calves born this year to older cows in the twelve year range mixed age bulls and steers in between. I know plenty of water, hay and shade, going to add electrolytes to their water supply. They are calling for heat ranges from 105*-116* depending on what station or app you are looking at. Anything else that I can do in advance or during to better their odds of survival and keep them alive? Thanks for any suggestions on this.
Expected extreme heat wave temperatures
- Thread starter Schmitty
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puzzled in oregon
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I just took a look at the NWS predictions, that sounds way to hot for me. Hope you are close to the coast
and the fog moves in.
and the fog moves in.
wbvs58
Well-known member
I find my cows deal with it better than me, they find a nice shady spot to camp.
Ken
Ken
TennesseeTuxedo
Well-known member
Water, water, and more water along with shade.
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Welcome to Texas.
As I heard that's why God made Texas summers is to scare you out of going to hell.
As I heard that's why God made Texas summers is to scare you out of going to hell.
Lucky_P
Well-known member
Water, shade, airflow, +/- sprinklers.
Good overview of the issues & physiology, as well as recommendations for managing and minimizing heat stress, here:
vetmed.iastate.edu
Fred Owen details how they made and used a mister to help manage heat stress here(gotta scroll a pretty good ways down the page):
Good overview of the issues & physiology, as well as recommendations for managing and minimizing heat stress, here:
Heat Stress In Beef Cattle | Iowa State University
Fred Owen details how they made and used a mister to help manage heat stress here(gotta scroll a pretty good ways down the page):
1982vett
Well-known member
Salt and minerals….
Silver
Well-known member
We have 99F in the forecast. I don't know if anyone or anything up here will survive it, this is uncharted territory for this country. We are not built for it.
Hpacres440p
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The one challenge with sprinklers is avoiding creating a high moisture area. Wet heat is miserable without definite air movementWater, shade, airflow, +/- sprinklers.
Good overview of the issues & physiology, as well as recommendations for managing and minimizing heat stress, here:
Heat Stress In Beef Cattle | Iowa State University
Fred Owen details how they made and used a mister to help manage heat stress here(gotta scroll a pretty good ways down the page):
Lucky_P
Well-known member
True dat. Sprinkling/misting without adequate airflow can make heat stress worse.
Katpau
Well-known member
They are predicting 103 on Saturday and 112 on Sunday here, with high 90's that started a few days ago and are shown in all of a 10 day forecast. I don't think I've ever felt that kind of heat before, so I don't know if I should be scared or not. That is over 30 degrees higher than our average for this time of year. All of our pastures have plenty of shade, water tanks are always near by and night time temperatures should drop to the high 60's. I think they will be fine, but I have no idea what 112 in the shade feels like. I believe there are places with cattle that see these temps every year. Do they do anything special?
My biggest fear is a for a cow that is due July 3rd. I am really regretting putting that straw in her last Fall. She was a cow I bought in the fall of 2019, and I had high hopes for her. She had a young fall calf on her and I held off breeding her until May of 2020 when she was bred with the rest of the herd. Unfortunately when we preg checked in the Fall of 2020 she had a big cyst and was open. I debated culling, but after popping the cyst she came back in heat and we went ahead and bred her. Now I will face the consequences. I sure hope she calves at night. She is overweight from her time off and that won't help.
My biggest fear is a for a cow that is due July 3rd. I am really regretting putting that straw in her last Fall. She was a cow I bought in the fall of 2019, and I had high hopes for her. She had a young fall calf on her and I held off breeding her until May of 2020 when she was bred with the rest of the herd. Unfortunately when we preg checked in the Fall of 2020 she had a big cyst and was open. I debated culling, but after popping the cyst she came back in heat and we went ahead and bred her. Now I will face the consequences. I sure hope she calves at night. She is overweight from her time off and that won't help.
Nesikep
Well-known member
that's nice
I don't have shade in many of my fields, cows do fine though, I'm very careful about water though, and they never have to travel to get it
Nesikep
Well-known member
She will be fine, the calf is going to need attention, maybe give it electrolytes in the heat of the day, watch that it actually goes to a shady place and doesn't just lay in the sun all day...
alacowman1
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That's Alabama ...you drink the air..
I've got a salt/mineral block for them that they use regularly, I had thought about the mister water for them, but had read somewhere before about the humidity being really hard for them. I'm close to the coast, but wouldn't be able to enjoy it worrying how the herd is doing. So I will be staying close to keep my eye on them. They are never grained, which I know can create too much internal heat, they have good spots for shade and fortunately we do get alot of wind in the evening that cuts through the pasture. Usually if the older cattle lay up in the shade, the calf is right there with them. But I will definitely check on him regularly and keep the water close and fresh. Thanks for the advice, hopefully I am just worrying more than I need to, and all will be good.
Cowsout
Active member
Misting fans are what kept the equestrian portion of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA, and it gets pretty hot and humid there, and those horses were working their butts off. So don't discount their use.
That's a very good read for sure. Certainly makes me glad that they're pastured and not feedlot.Water, shade, airflow, +/- sprinklers.
Good overview of the issues & physiology, as well as recommendations for managing and minimizing heat stress, here:
Heat Stress In Beef Cattle | Iowa State University
Fred Owen details how they made and used a mister to help manage heat stress here(gotta scroll a pretty good ways down the page):
That's true, I didn't consider that aspect of it. Lol, I know years ago when I took the family to six flags in California and we were walking what seemed like miles and standing in line for what seemed like forever they had the shade canopies and misters. They were probably one of the most appreciated things there.
Rydero
Well-known member
We've got similar winters and get that hot occasionally. I hate dugouts but the cows sure appreciate them in those temps. They'll just wade right in. Last year I had a cow laying in a 2 foot puddle one hot day because they were being watered from a trough and no dugout available. At first I thought something was wrong but no, she was just cooling off a bit. They'll survive but they won't like it.
Hey katpau, didn't realize how close you are, I'm in Salem Oregon myself, I think we're on track for the same experience for the heat wave. I am hoping that the high estimates of temperatures are not accurate and we end up much cooler. From what I've seen just today they are saying to expect as much as 116 but that they have no idea what to expect as it's coming from Arizona.
