Bob Judd, DVM, DABVP (Equine Medicine), DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice)
Typical summer heat can negatively affect your beef cattle, and as temperatures go up you need to monitor your cattle for heat stress. Dr. Barry Whitworth, DMV, with Oklahoma State Extension indicates at drovers.com that anytime temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, heat stress can occur. It is important to watch for signs of heat stress including increased breathing rate, open mouth breathing, breathing with the tongue protruding, and excessive salivation. When you see these signs, you will know these cattle need help quickly.
The quickest method of cooling cattle is to spray them with a mist of water and get them to an area with shade and natural wind. Just because your cattle are not showing clinical signs does not mean they are not affected negatively by the heat. Hidden consequences of heat stress include decreased conception rates in cows, decreased sperm quality in bulls, and reduced weight in younger cattle. The most important thing you need to do is make sure all your cattle have access to good clean water and plenty of it.
In the hot summer, an adult cow or bull may drink two gallons of water per 100 pounds of body weight per day. That means a 1500-pound cow needs 30 gallons of water per day. It is a good idea to place water tanks in the shade to keep the water as cool as possible and to keep the troughs clean. Make sure you have plenty of trough space around the water troughs so cattle can spread out when drinking and stay cooler. Feeding your cattle in the late evening after high daytime temperatures allow cattle to gradually lose heat better while fermenting their food after eating.
DABV (Dog na Feline Practice) - joto la kawaida la majira ya joto linaweza kuathiri vibaya ng'ombe wako wa nyama, na joto linapopanda unahitaji kufuatilia ng'ombe wako kwa mkazo wa joto. Barry Whitworth, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, MD. Ni muhimu kuangalia ishara za joto stress ikiwa ni pamoja na kuongezeka kwa kasi ya kupumua, kufungua kinywa kupumua, kupumua na ulimi protruding, na salivation kupita kiasi. Kama unaona ishara hizi, utajua kwamba ng'ombe hawa wanahitaji msaada haraka. Njia ya haraka zaidi ya kupoza ng'ombe ni kuwapiga maji na kuwapeleka mahali penye kivuli na upepo wa kawaida. Kwa sababu tu ng'ombe wako hawaonyeshi dalili za kliniki haimaanishi kwamba hawaathiriwa vibaya na joto. Matokeo ya siri ya mkazo wa joto ni pamoja na kupungua kwa viwango vya mimba katika ng'ombe, kupungua kwa ubora wa shahawa katika ng'ombe wa ng'ombe, na kupunguzwa kwa uzito katika ng'ombe wachanga. Jambo la muhimu zaidi ni kuhakikisha kwamba mifugo yako inapata maji safi na mengi. Katika majira ya joto, ng'ombe au ng'ombe-dume mzima anaweza kunywa lita mbili za maji kwa kila pauni 100 ya uzito wa mwili kwa siku. Kwa mfano, ng'ombe mwenye uzito wa kilo 1,500 anahitaji lita 30 za maji kwa siku. Ni bora kuweka matangi ya maji katika kivuli ili maji yawe baridi na mabwawa ya maji yawe safi. Hakikisha una nafasi ya kutosha karibu na mitungi ya maji ili mifugo iweze kuenea wakati wa kunywa na kukaa baridi. Kuandaa chakula cha jioni baada ya joto la mchana huwezesha mifugo kupoteza joto kwa polepole wakati wa kuchemsha chakula chao baada ya kula.