Summer Heat Requires Extra Care In Livestock Handling
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.—
The temperature and humidity are
in a race to reach triple digits, and
your air conditioner is working
overtime. You wouldn’t dare go
outside in such weather for more
than a few minutes, and even then
you drink plenty of fluids.
All too often, though, such pre
cautions aren’t heeded by those
who handle livestock. The results
can be devestating, even deadly,
for livestock during the hot, humid
summer months.
‘This is the critical time of the
year for transporting livestock,”
said Glenn Slack, executive direc
tor of the Bowling Green,
Ky.-based Livestock Conserva
tion Institute (LCI). “Common
sense procedures should be fol
lowed in reducing the risk factors
relating to moving animals in
extreme temperatures.”
According to “Livestock
Trucking Guide,” a Livestock
Conservation Institute (LCI)
publication authored by Dr.
Temple Grandin of Colorado State
University, each year 80,000 hogs
leave the farm but never reach
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market. Death losses often double
on hot, humid days.
Cattle losses aren’t as great, but
heat and humidity can increase
shrinkage (weight loss) and stress,
reducing an animal’s ability to
fight disease and even affecting
reproductive performance.
That translates into a dollar
and-cents loss for livestock pro
ducers. But is doesn’t have to,
explains Grandin, a member of
LCl’s board of directors. She says
some common-sense precautions
can help livestock producers avoid
the deadly consequences of heat
and humidity.
Among Grandin’s hot-weather
tips:
•During hot weather, livestock
should be hauled at night or early
morning.
•Instead of straw, use wet sand
or wet shavings for bedding.
•Remove pain slats from farm
trucks to provide more ventilation
Also, open nose vents for
ventilation.
•Load and unload promptly.
Heat will build up rapidly inside a
stationary vehicle.
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• Pull out panel tailgates
• Any size grain chute
•Transport 10-to-20 percent
fewer animals than normal during
hot weather.
•For hogs in particular, sprinkle
the animals with water before
loading.
But, cautions Grandin, don’t
pour cold water on an overheated
hog.
“That’s one fling you have to
be careful about,” Grandin said.
“If you throw cold water on an
overheated hog, it can shock its
system,”
Grandin emphasizes that all
these precautions are particularly
important for hogs because they
don’t have functioning sweat
glands.
“Pigs don’t sweat,” she said.
“It’s sort of like wearing a diver’s
wet suit all the time. You can
imaging what that would be like.”
To help livestock producers and
transporters understand the dan
gers of heat, LCI has produced a
Livestock Weather Safety Index
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New Tripoli, PA 18066
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ECKROTH BROS.
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RD #2, Box 24A
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which breaks down the heat-and
humidity levels into three catego
ries: alert, dange r and emergency.
When the index reaches the
emergency zone, producers
should postpone hog shipments
until the weather moderates.
In addition to the Livestock
Weather Safety Index, LCI has
produced three publications
“ Livestock Handling Guide,”
Dairy Picnic July 16
WARFORDSBURG (Fulton
Co.) —The Mason-Dixon Red and
White Dairy Cattle Association
will be holding its 2nd annual
picnic on Sunday, July 16, at 1
p.m. by Jack and Vicki King here
at Medovue Farm.
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“Livestock Trucking Guide,” and
“Handling Pigs”-which address
the dangers of heat and humidity.
LCI also offers videos on the
proper handling and transporta
tion procedures for swine and beef
and dairy cattle. For more infor
mation about these educational
resources, call LCI at (502)
782-9798.
paper goods will be provided.
Each family is to bring a covered
dish.
A tour of the National Red and
White Dairy Cattle Association
offices in nearby Crystal Springs
will follow the picnic.
All members and interested
families are invited.
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MILLER
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Stauffer Road
Bachtelsvllle, PA 19505
(610) 645-2911
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