Cows and the Heat

[Star Creek Dexters]

How do you help your cows get through the heat?

Our 7day forecast is solid 100-104 with no break in sight. Cows have been sticking to the shade, grazing at night. I have been putting ACV in their water and recently started adding frozen gallon jugs of water to help keep it cold. I'm wondering what else you guys do to help your cows get through it? Any tips?

[legendrockranch]

Hi Kim...OK I give up what is ACV?

We probably have about the same temps as you. There is nothing special we do. Our tanks are dry otherwise they would go stand in them to cool off.

Most of our water troughs are in the shade, if the water gets to hot we refill them, but we do not use ice water.
I know it's tough, but their bodies have to adjust.

We used to have a cow that would stand in the smaller calves water trough, making us have to empty it everyday. We sold her for that reason only. She went to a ranch here in Texas that had a year round pond that she could stand in all she wanted.

In the past we would take a hose with a fine mist spray and cool them off that way. After a while I felt that was useless.

Sorry I can't be of much help.

My only suggestion to others would be NEVER calve in the heat of summer. It's hard watching a day old calf panting unless you can put them in an area that has fans.

Barb

[Star Creek Dexters]

Thanks, Barb. I know I am usually outside doing stuff no matter the temp. But the last couple of days, once it hits noon, I am house bound. I am very thankful that we have lots of big oaks the cows, (and goats and chickens) can get under for shade. It stays quite a bit cooler there.

ACV=Apple Cider Vinegar
My grandma told me it's an old wives tale that it helps them regulate the heat better. After googling it, there are all sorts of health benefits to it. I double checked it with my vet and he concurred that it does help with the heat, also with regulating heat cycles and calving, and a whole list of other things. I put a 'glop' into their water troughs each day. They run up and start drinking right away, so they must liked it.

[legendrockranch]

Now I know what ACV means thanks.
So how much of it do you use? I might just give it a try after I read more about it.

Barb

[ctownson]

We have also had a really hot summer. Fans and shade. The cows almost fight each other over who gets closest to the fan!

[legendrockranch]

Lots of cattle producers & breeders are experiencing heat stress in their herds this year. Here are a couple of links that might help.

ianrnews.unl.edu/static/1006170.shtml

agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx11011.pdf

My animals always lay next to the water trough because they are under shade trees, plus its where we dump the old water so it kind of muddy there.

Barb

[Star Creek Dexters]

Barb, I literally just pour a 'glop' or maybe about 1/2-1 cup in a 25 gallon tub.
Here's a link with a little info about it. I am trying to find my 'good link' that is full of info, but it looks like it's been deleted from my favorites =(
www.premierstockfeeds.co.nz/index.php?cPath=12

[Star Creek Dexters]

Any of you have those big barn fans? I really want to put one up in the arch of our barn. Hubby is probly not going to be happy about adding another thing to the ever growing list of projects!

[legendrockranch]

Thanks for the link. I've been googling ACV and cattle to get some true hard facts. That's just the way I am.
It's been interesting what I've read so far about it, though not to many actual studies.

Barb

[Star Creek Dexters]

There is lots of info out there, but it was hard for me to find factual stuff, too. I like to go natural prevention/treatment where ever possible, and it also helped that I take ACV internally myself everyday. Made me feel better about trying it on my cows Also, that my vet backed it up.

[allmuxedup]

We only have one cow that really has a problem w/the heat. She's dun w/out horns. If you've ever looked at a Dexter skull, you'll notice the huge holes in the horns. That's for heat regulation. All the other cows are black w/ horns. Both really help in regulating heat. Black does indeed absorb heat, but it also radiates it,much better than any other color. My black cows w/ horns are cooler than my dun cow whose horns were removed.