Recognizing the Signs of Heat Stress in Cattle

September is still dominated by hot and dry weather. This is because some regions are still at the peak of the dry season. The biggest challenge for livestock during the summer is heat stress (heat stress), which is triggered by a combination of high temperatures and extreme humidity. Signs that cows indicate this condition heat stress among others:

• Breathing faster
• Seek shade more often
• Produces more saliva
• Decreased feed consumption
• Drink more often

This condition certainly has an impact on the condition of livestock, the main challenges faced by livestock in the summer are:

1. Risk of dehydration due to increased water requirements

In summer, livestock's water needs can double to maintain a stable body temperature. If water supplies are limited or the water temperature is too hot due to direct sunlight, cattle can quickly become severely dehydrated and weak.

2. Decrease in feed consumption (Dry Matter Intake)

As ambient temperatures rise, cows will drastically reduce their feed intake to suppress internal heat production from metabolism and digestion. This can lead to energy and nutrient deficiencies, leading to weight loss in beef cattle and significant reductions in milk production in dairy cows.

3. Health problems and decreased immunity

Extreme heat makes livestock more susceptible to infection. This can increase the risk of diseases such as mastitis in dairy cows, digestive disorders such as acidosis, and lameness/ laminitis because cows stand up to get air more often than lying down. 

4. Reproductive problems and silent heat

Heat stress can disrupt the body's hormonal conditions, including the reproductive hormones of both male and female cattle. As a result, female cattle are more susceptible to heat stroke. silent heat (quiet/invisible heat) making it difficult for breeders to detect. Furthermore, it can decrease the pregnancy success rate and increase the risk of miscarriage.

5. Increase in insect and parasite populations

Warm, humid weather creates ideal conditions for the development of flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. This naturally impacts the comfort and health of livestock. Livestock become restless due to constantly fending off insects, and these insect bites also act as vectors for the transmission of various diseases.

Farmers' Strategies for Keeping Cattle Healthy and Productive

To face this challenge, farmers must focus on three main pillars: environmental management (cage), clean drinking water management and feed management (nutrition).

1. Environmental and cage management

• Cage Shade. The barn should have a high roof with good ventilation. If a roof is used, it should be made of a material with good thermal insulation (e.g., clay tiles) or a shade net. If cattle are grazed, ensure there are shade trees or shade netting in the pasture area.
• Alternative to using a fan. In the cow shed, install a fan to help circulation, especially for dairy cows.
• Water cooling system. Use soakers (a coarse-grained water spray) in the feeding area to wet the cow's skin down to the hairline, combined with a fan to dry it. Avoid fogging (the mist is too fine) if the ventilation is not good because it can actually increase the humidity in the cage.
• Reduce the density of the cage. Avoid putting too many cows in one compartment/pan (overcrowding) so that air circulation around the cow's body is not obstructed which can increase heat stress conditions.

2. Drinking Water Management

• Ad libitum access to clean water. Cows' water needs can increase significantly in the summer. Provide automatic water troughs with a fast water flow rate and provide water ad libitum. Provide supplements to help address fluid (electrolyte) deficiencies, reduce and accelerate recovery from stress, and boost immunity. For example, Transolite Contains a mineral blend that can help meet the body's mineral needs, which play a vital role in physiological and metabolic activities. Transolite is effective in addressing fluid/electrolyte deficiencies and stress management.
• Keep the water temperature cool. Place the water tank in a shaded area to prevent the water from heating up due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Cows prefer cool water, which also helps lower their body temperature.
• Cleanliness of drinking basins. Clean the drinking bowl more often (at least once every 2 days) because warmer water is quickly overgrown with moss and bacteria.

3. Feed and nutrition management

• Feeding time. Feeding should be done during cooler times, such as early morning and late afternoon. Avoid feeding large amounts of food during the day, as digestion produces the highest internal heat 4–5 hours after eating.
• Increase nutrient density. Because cattle's appetites decrease, provide feed with high-quality, easily digestible fiber and high energy concentration to ensure daily nutritional needs are met even with reduced feed intake. During hot weather, cattle's appetites inevitably decrease. Provide high-quality fresh grass or legumes (such as indigofera/alfa), which are more easily digested than tough, dried grasses.

4. Health and Reproductive Management

• Control of flies and parasites. Summer triggers an increase in fly populations, which can be disruptive to cows. Regularly spray for flies with Delatrin and avoid dirty areas that trigger places for flies to perch and breed.
• Deworming program. A deworming program is still carried out to treat parasitic worms in livestock. It can even use products to treat both internal (worms) and external (fleas, ticks, mites, and other insects) parasites simultaneously. Wormectin Liquid. Application for giving Wormectin Liquid It's quite easy, just apply it to the back line from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail.
• Artificial insemination (AI) This is done only in the early morning or evening when the cow's body temperature is at its lowest point to increase the chances of successful pregnancy.