Heat stress

cloverfarm · #1 07/21/05, 03:44 PM

Hi, y'all,
It's 95 degrees here, which probably seems pleasant and mild to some of you folks. What are you all doing to manage heat stress for your cattle? It would be interesting to hear about operations other than in here in the Midwest.

Ann

agmantoo · #2 07/21/05, 05:36 PM

I provide access to a hardwood shaded area that is on a knoll. The cattle lounge there during the heat of the day. Today I needed to move the cattle to a fresh paddock with good grazing but when I tried to get them to relocate they just ignored me and stayed in the shade. I will go make the effort again before dark and they will be happy to cooperate once it has cooled down. You see who the dumb one was out in the heat in the middle of the day trying to accomplish something!

Faith Farm · #3 07/21/05, 10:53 PM

We have a small herd of 24 Angus currently on an 8 acre
open field with access to 10 acres of hardwoods and a
small stream. The field is like a large bowl which the
cows frequent early morning, graze the shaded edges
mid morning, head to the tall tree shade area late morning,
then off to the deep woods around the stream noon till
early evening. I will move them this weekend to the next
7 acre paddock with less trees. If the temp stays high I will expand
graze area into a small wooded area. I also move the water
tank around the shade trees to keep pugging down. Trees are a must
for Angus but the pugging is a problem. I hope to switch to a more heat
tolerant breed next year as finances allow.

JulieLou42 · #4 07/23/05, 01:11 AM

I'm new to this...what's "pugging" My cow's 1/4 Angus, and has the size of one, too!

agmantoo · #5 07/23/05, 08:37 AM

It has been my observation that on good pasture the cattle are going to graze for a duration then they are going to lounge in the shade if it is available and chew there cud. I do not see any breed of cattle that will eat continuously or any cattle that will lounge in the sun during hot weather if shade is available. To minimize a pugging situation should you just not limit the access to the area during extremely wet weather?

Faith Farm · #6 07/23/05, 02:24 PM

Pugging is the damage done to soil which large animals
can cause with their hoofs. They will completely clear
a heavily weeded area where a water tank remains for
a prolonged period of time and more so in wet weather.
I have a tank under a large white oak for about a month
now and we are in somewhat of a draught. The cattle
keep the area moist & well pugged from their urine. A
pugger area will recover after a few rains and an application
of seed.

cloverfarm · #7 07/23/05, 10:00 PM

Oh, you mean stomping! (Which DH pronounces "stumping" for some reason -- must be that Dutchy accent again)

I'm not as concerned about the heifers and their calves since they have shade out on pasture. But the beef steers are bigger and heavier and seemed to be taking it harder. We have the barn open at both ends-- its a bank barn. The west end has roller doors and the east side opens out into a lean-to then a concrete lot where their feed bunk is located. For them about all we can do is keep the barn as open as possible. Tomorrow is supposed to be a stinking hot day ... hope all goes well for the critters!

Ann