Heat Indexes of over 100 this week into the weekend with little or no breeze in the Northern Plains will be a very stressful time for livestock, particularly feedlot cattle.Former SDSU Animal Science Professor Dr. Robbi Pritchard,now an animal science consultant says hopefully producers have prepared for the weather and taken steps to help their cattle withstand the stress.
He says one of the most important steps producers can take is to cut back on feed given in the morning to cattle.
Pritchard advises producers to take out more feed than what cattle were refusing. He says then they’ll be a little hungry going into the afternoon. Pritchard says it’s most critical to lessen the heat stress on the heavier cattle.
Pritchard says if conditions get tough enough, producers can always fill their feed bunks with water. He says that’d be helpful since many animals may not want to eat much anyway.
