Kentucky livestock producers will need to keep an attentive eye on their animals this week, as the hottest spell of weather since August, 2005 sweeps across the state. University of Kentucky Agricultural Meteorologist Tom Priddy issued a livestock heat stress advisory for this afternoon west of Interstate 75. Heat indices in that half of the state were expected to rise to or just above 105 degrees. The livestock heat index was in the emergency category during the afternoon in the west. The rest of the state experienced a livestock heat index in the upper levels of the danger category.
As for upcoming days, Priddy says, “The entire state is going to move into emergency livestock heat stress during the afternoon hours and continue that way for the remainder of the week. That’s a little bit different from what we’ve been having. Prior to last week, we’d had four weeks of below-level temperatures on average.”
Priddy said the heat wave prompts some real concern for livestock and pets. The heat index is a combination of air temperature and humidity, and it’s that one-two punch that makes it hazardous for animals over the next six or seven days. Dew points above 65 degrees lead officials to declare conditions dangerous for livestock, he said. Today’s dew point in Fayette County is 73 degrees. Priddy expects dew points to remain in that 70-degree range throughout the week.
UK College of Agriculture livestock specialist Bill Crist recommends providing plenty of fresh water, adequate feed and shade for livestock. He said the most important things producers can do are to provide cool, clean water and shade with buildings as open as possible.
“Also, adding fans inside the buildings can help keep air flowing,” he said. “When you bring the cows into the milking parlor, don’t move them fast and try to keep them calm.”
Some dairy producers have installed sprinkler systems that spray cool water for a few minutes at a time. When the sprinklers shut off the fans evaporate water and draw heat from the cows.
All species of livestock will benefit from early morning or evening feeding times to avoid eating in the hottest parts of the day, he said.
Crist said it’s important for producers to avoid stressing the animals in hot weather. This means to limit traveling or even movement around the farm, as well as working them in any way. This can all put the animals under added stress and cause more problems down the road, he said.
“Certainly, you do not want to work cattle with this kind of weather – veterinarian work, reproductive checks or vaccinations … anything that makes them move for some reason,” he said.
Up-to-date livestock heat stress index information is available through the Agricultural Weather Center Web site at http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/ or by going to the local county Extension office’s Web site and clicking on the weather link.
