According to the Weather Channel it’s about 100 degrees this week, so yes it’s hot. But there are cattle ranches in Arizona and New Mexico where it’s even hotter.
Never farmed cattle but did chickens and turkeys...they can die easily of heat stress so you need to run the fans all summer.
Does anyone know if heat alone, that is in the 90s, can kill cattle?
been around cattle most of my life
heat alone will not kill cattle
Depends on the cattle. Some do not do well in heat. Heat stress kills a lot of livestock
There are feedlots in the area that run 100,000 head or more. We are coming up on a major holiday and these cattle were likely soon to go to the packers. Prime beef.
Just exactly what do folks think the temperatures are in cattle country in Texas?
The answer is yes. The cattle that died were packing at least 1” back fat and had no means to dissipate the heat load as a result of several factors. High day and night temps, humidity and no wind.
I work with the quoted Vet. First rate professional.
MFO
AgDaily says it was 108 where the largest die offs occurred, combined with high humidity and no breeze.
Part of the problem is CAFO. In June when the weather turns hot quickly the animals are out there on packed dirt, no shade, no mud and not enough human attention to notice and get them cooled off. By the time somebody does notice, it’s too late. Shitty corporate farm practices.
Which is why I buy local farm direct from a guy who has 30 head and not 3000.
As long as they have enough water they can handle 90 degrees fine. I grew up with dairy cows, grazing happily in 90 degree sun. When they came in for milking they got their fill of water and were no worse for wear.
It can if it's been in the high 90's and they can't get the right grazing and enough water. Right now in my county, we had a short spring by about a month, and it turned off dry. We've had 100 degree days here, and it's not even July yet. The grass is dying. The ranchers took a cutting of hay while they could, now they are looking at having to turn around and start feeding it to the cattle instead of saving it for winter. The cattle don't look good. You don't see them trying to graze, but you see them all huddled together under the shade trees, or hanging around any ponds that may still have water.
My one acre pond is dry. Thank God I have a deep well I can pump from. It's the only thing keeping my garden halfway alive. The heat come on too fast to make big potatoes or onions. I was lucky enough to plant half of my tomato crop with heatmaster tomatoes. The other varieties I had made a few tomatoes, but are dropping blooms due to the heat. I also managed to plant half of my squash in heat-resistant varieties. The sweet potatoes, beans, and peas still look decent. But, I'm really pouring the water on that garden. Summer just came on about month too soon.