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Hazardous Heat Wave Sweeping the State
By
Carol L. Spence
 LEXINGTON,
Ky., (Aug. 8, 2007) – Kentucky livestock producers will need to
keep an attentive eye on their animals for the next eight to 14
days, as the hottest spell of weather since August 2005
continues to sweep across the state.
University of Kentucky Agricultural Meteorologist Tom Priddy has
issued a livestock heat stress advisory for the entire state.
Heat indices in the afternoon and early evening are expected to
be in the 100 to 105 degree range, with the northern counties
experiencing indices that could be closer to 110 degrees. The
livestock heat index is in the emergency category and will
continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
Priddy said the heat wave prompts some real concern for humans,
as well as livestock and pets. The heat index is a combination
of air temperature and humidity. That one-two punch makes it
hazardous for people and animals. Dew points above 65 degrees
lead officials to declare conditions dangerous for livestock, he
said. Dew points around the state continue to hover in the 70s
and Priddy expects very little change in the extended forecast.
“There will be a slight break over the weekend when temperatures
drop to the high 80s and low 90s across the state,” he said,
“but then it picks right back up again at the beginning of next
week.”
UK College of Agriculture livestock specialist Bill Crist
recommends providing plenty of fresh water, adequate feed and
shade for livestock. He said the most important things producers
can do are to provide cool, clean water and shade with buildings
as open as possible.
“Also, adding fans inside the buildings can help keep air
flowing,” he said. “When you bring the cows into the milking
parlor, don’t move them fast and try to keep them calm.”
Some dairy producers have installed sprinkler systems that spray
cool water for a few minutes at a time. When the sprinklers shut
off the fans evaporate water and draw heat from the cows.
All species of livestock will benefit from early morning or
evening feeding times to avoid eating in the hottest parts of
the day, he said.
Crist said it’s important for producers to avoid stressing the
animals in hot weather. This means to limit traveling or even
movement around the farm, as well as working them in any way.
This can all put the animals under added stress and cause more
problems down the road, he said.
“Certainly, you do not want to work cattle with this kind of
weather – veterinarian work, reproductive checks or vaccinations
… anything that makes them move for some reason,” he said.
Up-to-date livestock heat stress index information is available
through the Agricultural Weather Center Web site at http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/
or by going to the local county Extension office’s Web site and
clicking on the weather link.
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Contact: Tom Priddy, 859-257-3000, ext. 245
Bill Crist, 859-257-7543
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The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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