Michelle Arnold, DVM, Ruminant Extension Agent with the University of Kentucky, offers advice from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on handling cattle during extreme heat conditions.
Actions to be taken before an extreme heat event:
1. Monitor the weather.
2. Prepare a summer feeding program, which is a low heat increment diet, to feed the cattle during heat waves.
3. Ensure that there are no restrictions to air movement such as hay storage locations or wind breaks.