Frequently Asked Questions 

Q? With all of this hot weather, are there some tips for monitoing my cattle??

A: Floridian researchers offer these guidelines for recognizing heat stress in cattle. Your cattle are experiencing heat stress when the rectal temperatures exceed 102.5°. To evaluate pick a hot day and take the temperature of 10 cows. If the group averages more than 102.5°, you know they need cooling. They need cooing if respirations exceed 80 breaths per minute, again, count breaths per minute in a group of 10 cows and average. If dry matter intake or milk production drops 10% or more in hot weather, your cows are in heat stress. Check feed intakes by weighing feed refusal for the day and subtracting that from amount fed. Weighing back feed is extra work, but a good practice anyway. It confirms what your eyes suspect, but may tell you the moisture content of the wet feeds is changing. Remember, cows eat ona 'dry matter' basis.

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