Keeping Livestock Cool in the Recent Heat Wave

Having animals to care for in the wake of the recent heat wave can be extremely taxing.  The National Weather Service has said that more than 1,000 heat records have been set or tied this month across the nation! Excessive heat warnings have been issued for much of the Central and Eastern United States through the weekend and temperatures have been forecast above 100 degrees, combined with humidity that could make it feel as hot as 115!  Although shade trees help livestock, and so does a breeze – provided there is one, keeping animals cool will be critical for farmers and handlers.

Veterinarians say farmers should do what they can to keep their animals out of direct sunlight and provide them with water – both inside and out.  Large-scale farms, which face additional challenges when animals are housed in close quarters and unable to naturally cool off, typically use fans and water misting systems to keep animals from overheating during the peak hours of the daytime temperatures.

Last week, about 50,000 chickens at a North Carolina farm died after the power went off for 45 minutes and the temperature outside was 98 degrees. A Kansas couple lost 4,300 turkeys, which weighed about 50 pounds apiece and took 26 hours to bury. The temperature in the building, even with fans cooling it, hit 106 degrees. In South Dakota, up to 1,500 head of cattle died across the state from the heat.  Considering the staggering amount of livestock lost in the recent heatwave conditions – having an Environmental Alarm and Control System to monitor environmental conditions, offer alarm notifications, alarm history reviews, and remote control capabilities can be essential for many farmers and handlers.