Youth across Wisconsin have been working hard all year to prepare their livestock projects for the show ring. With this summer’s extreme heat, be mindful of your animal’s well-being. A rule of thumb is that if you’re feeling uncomfortable in the summer heat, chances are your livestock are, too.
With the help of local experts, this blog explores strategies for “beating the heat” and keeping your livestock comfortable at the fair.
Cattle
Dr. Scott Pertzborn, an owner at the Lodi Veterinary Clinic, says if cows had their say, the temperature would be 50 degrees all the time, equivalent to the average high temperature in late October/early November. Cattle feel heat stress when temperatures rise above 70 degrees.
You can’t get rid of heat stress completely, he says, but shade, sprinklers, and fans are an effective way to cool cattle. Bring high-velocity fans to move air quickly. Depending on the fairgrounds, you may need a generator, too. Limit overcrowding to reduce heat.
Sheep
Bernie O’Rourke, youth livestock specialist with UW-Extension, says traveling to a fair can bring additional stress to animals. Traveling in the early morning before the heat of the day can benefit all species.
She also reminds exhibitors to make sure the show animals are acclimating to the water at the fair and actively drinking – bringing water from home, filtering the water, or adding electrolytes can help. Measure the water the animals are intaking, so you know they’re drinking.
Pigs
What if the animal is showing signs of stress? O’Rourke recommends contacting a veterinarian. For pigs, lukewarm water on the belly can help cool them down quickly if heat stress does strike. Don’t shock the animals with cold water.
Feeding animals at night, during the cooler part of the day, is also a strategy to keep animals cool. Limit movement to these cooler hours, too – washing, practicing, exercising, etc.
Rabbits
Even rabbits can succumb to heat stress. Wisconsin State Rabbit Breeders Association President Barb Semb says rabbits can overheat and ‘blow their coat,’ meaning they rapidly shed their fur in just a few hours. Keep your rabbit cool with fans. Another strategy is to place a frozen
water bottle or frozen ceramic tiles in the rabbit’s cage. It will lay next to the frozen material to stay cool. You’ll be able to tell your rabbit is hot when it’s breathing heavily and sprawling out.
Remember to stay in the barn and monitor your animals during the hot days at the fair.
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