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Prepare to prevent heat stress in cattle

A veterinarian reminds producers that heat stress can be a big problem for dairy and beef cattle.  Veterinarian Ryan Royer serves as a consultant for Novonesis.  He tells Brownfield that uncomfortable cattle eat less, milk and beef production will drop, and health problems become more common. “Anywhere from ten or fifteen percent up to fifty percent feed intake drops in our pens of dairy cows. That’s really significant in overall performance and obviously, in animal health.”

Royer says heat stress in calves can be a bigger problem, since young calves don’t have a fully developed immune system. “They also have pathogens in their environment that are kind of always present, but when they’re in a compromised state, those pathogens can gain some access that they wouldn’t otherwise, and create some diarrhea and some other respiratory problems.”

Royer says plenty of good ventilation, fresh water, feed, and perhaps some probiotic feed additives will help keep the animals healthy during hot weather.

AUDIO: Dr. Ryan Royer DVM with Novonesis discusses heat stress in cattle with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.