PIERRE — Continuing hot weather is putting livestock producers on alert. The heat came on suddenly and SDSU Extension Veterinarian Dr. Russ Daly says livestock, especially cattle probably didn’t have time to acclimate.
He says producers need to provide shade and good air movement in pens and barns. Adequate water, ration changes and feeding livestock later in the day also helps…
Daly says despite intervention performance will be impacted, but how much depends on the duration of the heat stress….
He says hog performance and gains can also suffer and in confinement good ventilation is a key for keeping the herd productive.
