When the temperature rises so does the concern over the health and welfare for cattle. I’m Susan Allen Open Range will be back with some preventive proactive measures for dealing with heat stress.

Ranchers take a variety of  precautions to protect thier cattle  during hot spells   Some animal science schools teach that the rumen temperature is affected by warm water,  believing that when cattle only have access to warm or hot water it raises their blood temperature and that ultimately impacts the amount of food they consume, one good  reason  to check temperatures in the water tank on a regular basis, another is that the tank might be empty,!When temperatures are in the 90’s cattle drink more than twice the normal amount. I read recenlty an article from a  beef specialist who recommends that ranchers that use  intensive grazing  (pasture maintenance methods that consist of constantly moving cattle from pasture to pasture,) should  move cattle more rapidly through the process  when it’s hot  because taller grasses are more  cooler for the animals than a closely grazed pasture. He also encouraged producers to  rotate  cattle in the evening not morning, the theory being that  the heat load of the cow is reduced as the grass is digested during the night rather than during the hottest time of day.The  Danger zone for cattle is when temperatures remain in the high 90’s to 100’s with increased   humidity, the reason some short of shade is so critical especially in areas where animals are closely contained.