Heat stress presents significant challenges for livestock globally, posing serious threats to both farmers and the future sustainability of livestock production. It occurs when animals struggle to regulate their body temperature in hot environmental conditions.
In this episode, Dr Klaas-Jan Leeuw, a researcher specialising in ruminant nutrition at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), offers valuable insights into practical management strategies and infrastructure adaptations aimed at mitigating the impacts of heat stress.
Animals affected differently
According to Leeuw, certain animals are more susceptible to the severe effects of heat stress compared to others.
“In cattle for example, depending if it’s beef or dairy cattle, the effect will be larger in dairy cattle because they drink up quite a lot of water and they have to eat a lot more than beef cattle.
“Exposure to excessive heat and sunlight will make the animals eat less and in that way your cattle start performing less. In dairy cattle, you will see it in reduced milk production and in beef cattle weight gain might be affected,” he explains.
He goes on to discuss the behavioural effects on livestock animals and offers advice to farmers on how to spot these symptoms as soon as possible.
In this episode, he also discusses:
- Management practices farmers can implement;
- Infrastructures solutions; and;
- Appropriate times to work with animals during hot weather conditions.
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