Shade and water are essential for animals this summer.
Shade and water are essential for animals this summer.
With the warmer weather approaching, I'd like to take a minute to talk about heat stress and precautions to take to keep livestock safe and healthy during the heat of summer.
Unbeknownst to some people, cattle, sheep, Alpacas and Llamas, pigs and goats are also very prone to getting heatstress during the hot summer months.
Imagine having black skin like an Angus cow, or being in full wool like some sheep, stuck in the middle of a paddock with very little shelter, in the full sun. We all know how much hotter black cars get in the sun. The same applies to cows too.
So what are the signs of heat stress in livestock animals? Initially heat stress leads to decreased appetite and feed intake (often because animals will seek out shade rather than grazing in the middle of a paddock), less production of milk in lactating animals, and increased water intake.
Heat stroke, which is the next step up from heat stress, will present as heavily panting and hot to the touch animals, dark or purple dry gums, lethargy, collapse and seizures. It is important to seek vet attention immediately as life-threatening seizures and organ/brain damage can occur. While the vet is on the way, hose animals down with cool water immediately, provide fresh drinking water and offershade.
Prevention of heat strokes includes getting sheep shorn in time for summer, providing shade in each paddock and providing plenty of fresh water.
Pigs also require a mud bath to cool down as they cannot sweat through skin like people do.
Remember that white animals are at risk of getting sunburned and skin cancers - consider Filtabac sunscreen, shade and covering susceptible body parts during the day.
