Hot Weather Causes Concern for Dairy Farmers

Jul 19, 2012

Extreme Heat Reducing Milk Production in North America

Dairy farmers know that when the temperature goes up, milk production tends goes down. The reduction of milk output is not just related to the temperatures that cow’s experience, but also the quality and quantity of forages used for feed. As extreme temperatures scorch the continent, pasture lands and grazing forages have suffered greatly, causing more dairy farmers to purchase feeds.

Although there isn’t a whole lot that farmers can do about the weather, they can take some extra precautions to ensure that their cattle stay healthy and happy during the hottest year in over a half a century. Cow comfort is an important issue that needs to be addressed when the weather is less than kind; and keeping your cows comfortable will help to maintain optimal milk production levels.

Here are a few tips that help keep the milk flowing on my farm:
•    Keep barn doors open and utilize ventilation systems
•    Use misting fans to keep the cows cool (investigate water restrictions in the area)
•    Use fans to keep air circulating in the barn
•    Provide comfortable bedding and shade
•    Modify diet to replenish lost electrolytes and maintain feed intake
•    Always have ample water available for the herd at all times
•    If cows are in pasture, centralize the water supply for quick and easy water access

Some of the symptoms of heat stress include reduced feed intake and consequently, reduced milk production. Cattle can become listless and less mobile in extreme heat, so it’s important to recognize these symptoms quickly and take the appropriate measures for cooling the animals. Temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit with elevated humidity levels of 50% can be lethal for dairy cows, so watch closely for signs of heat stress in your herd.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.