Agriculture Secretary Warns High Temperatures Can Cause Heat Stress in Livestock, Pets

News provided by

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Jul 07, 2010, 12:56 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With a heat wave affecting much of the state, Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding today said these high temperatures can cause livestock and pets to suffer from heat-related stress. Heavier, fattened livestock, animals with darker coats and those with chronic health conditions are at the greatest risk of stress from the extreme heat.

Redding recommends looking for signs of stress in livestock that are outside during the hottest part of the day. These signs include animals bunching together, heavy panting, slobbering, lack of coordination and trembling.

"Because extremely high temperatures can be distressing for livestock and pets, it is critical that owners monitor their animals to ensure that those suffering effects from the heat can be quickly treated," said Redding. "If your animals experience the symptoms listed or exhibit other unusual behaviors which could be related to heat stress, contact a veterinarian immediately."

The department offered additional tips for helping livestock animals including cows, horses, pigs, sheep and others deal with the heat.

  • Provide shade – move them to shaded pens if possible.
  • Provide water – as temperatures rise, animals need to consume more water. Spraying animals with water can also help them to cool down, using a sprinkler that provides large droplets.
  • Avoid overworking livestock – it's safest to work with cattle early in the morning when their body temperatures are low. In addition, routine livestock management procedures such as vaccination, hoof trimming and dehorning should be postponed until the weather cools.
  • Avoid unnecessary transportation - if cattle must be moved, try to do so in the late evening or early morning hours.

It is important to have proper ventilation for animals kept indoors, and be sure to have backup power generation systems in place should an electrical outage occur.  

For more information, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us.

Contacts: Justin Fleming, 717-787-5085

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

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