Purdue News

July 25, 1997

Summer heat can cause discomfort for livestock

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The hot days of July and August can be the most uncomfortable of the year for livestock, but keeping alert for warning signals and taking precautions can lessen the stress on animals.

According to Michel Levy, associate professor of large animal medicine at Purdue University, heat can have serious effects on livestock. They lose body water and essential minerals from sweating.

"What they can have is heat prostration, or overheating. It's also a combination of high temperatures and high humidity," Levy said. "They lose sodium, chloride, water and important electrolytes. These are extremely important to the body."

Many owners may not recognize that their animals are overheated early enough. Levy said that animals give signs of overheating.

"One of the most common early signs is when they walk continuously from one side of the pen to the other -- that is an early sign of heat stress. Most of the time this is something that is noticed, but not understood as a sign of heat stress," Levy said.

"Some animals become restless, excited or prostrated. They can become dull or depressed. Respiration is rapid and breathing is through the open mouth."

Levy has done research on the effects of heat on llamas. There are about 80 llama farms in Indiana. Levy says there are several steps that have been used to put llamas at ease. Some of these suggestions can be used with livestock as well for treating heat stress:

Fresh water should be available at all times and placed in a cooler area.
If shade is available, chances are the animals will be smart enough to spend most of their time under the shade.
If the livestock spend time inside, fans can be used to lower the air temperature.
Since llamas lose heat mainly via their legs, belly and tail area, one approach used by many owners is to hose down the underside of each animal.
Fill kid pools or wading pools with water and leave them outside for animals to drink out of or wade in.
Use water misters at ground level, knee high or on the back.
Keep the level of activity to a minimum, and if traveling with livestock, schedule the trip for early morning or in the evening when the temperature is lowest.

Source: Michel Levy, (765) 494-8548; e-mail, levy@vet.purdue.edu
Writer: Azura Domschke, (765) 494-8402; e-mail, news_students@aes.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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