Ag & Range

12 Sept. 2, 2021 | The Eagle | csceagle.com Ag Range&

ABOVE: The heat stress index monitor is used by USMARC to measure how dangerous heat conditions are. LEFT: A group of feedlot cattle escape the summer heat. Both photos courtesy USMARC

USMARC’s advice on minimizing heat stress

u By Alexa Johnson USDA Communication Specialist

Hello folks, Alexa here back with more news from USMARC! During this summer season, USDA’s ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) is dealing with the heat just like you. Fortunately, we have many ways to keep our animals comfortable and I am sharing some insights from one of our experts, USMARC livestock manager, Chad Engle:

Q.: What summer weather factors contribute to heat stress?

A.: Great question Alexa! There are five factors that we monitor that contribute to heat stress. But the first step in managing heat stress is understanding what “normal” is for your ranch or feedlot and when a change in these factors is a cause for concern. The five key factors are: solar radiation, ambient air temperature, relative humidity/dew point, wind speed, and nighttime temperatures. And, there are two other factors that sometimes compound these five factors including both duration of the heat stress period, and suddenness of the onset of the heat stress conditions. Cattle can and do adapt to heat and admittedly some breeds better than others. Regardless of the breed, however, a quick change in any of these factors can create heat stress in cattle.

Q..: Is there a way for ranchers who don’t have a heat stress monitoring system to monitor the potential stresses on their animals?

A.: Yes, there is something magical about the number 70 in regard to temperature and dewpoint. If either the temperature and/or dewpoint do not drop below 70 at night, little to no dissipation of the cattle’s heat load during the day will occur. This will result in much lower tolerance to heat stress factors the following day or even days. Besides 70, the other critical number is three. If we go three days without dropping temperature and dewpoint below 70, the chances of the heat creating an adverse effect on livestock ramp up significantly for the following days. It’s important to remember that heat stress is cumulative, especially without adequate cooling at night. For example, if we have a sudden onset and insufficient night cooling during a span of three days or longer, we could see significantly increased mortality and other related problems on days four or longer, especially in the feedlots, unless we provide adequate mitigation.

Q..: Very interesting Chad! What resources or tools should producers be aware of to protect their livestock from heat stress?

A.: Thanks Alexa! The four tools we use are preparation and planning, increasing access to water tanks and sprinklers, ensuring access to shade, and adjusting the timing of working and processing cattle for both range and feedlot work.

So, step one in addressing heat stress is to make sure you are prepared. It’s too late to get extra water tanks out, alter work schedules, or provide shade in the middle of the heat event. You need to plan ahead to successfully implement any of our proven strategies. We usually know a few days in advance that we have a potential heat event coming, which gives us time to plan and implement. Much like a blizzard, if we wait until the storm starts, we are too late.

The second most important tool, and most effective, is adding extra water access for our livestock. This is especially true for facilities that do not have shade available to the cattle. If you can implement one thing after reading this article, let it be this, because nothing cools cattle down quicker than abundant water available any time the cattle want it. This is especially true for feedlot cattle, but it also helps in pasture or range cattle, especially during times of increased handling such as branding or artificial insemination seasons.

Another effective source of cooling is the use sprinklers to physically cool cattle. Sprinkling is an effective way to cool cattle and get them through heat events, but the use of sprinklers needs to be well planned before being implemented. For example, cattle need to be acclimated to the sprinklers prior to the heat event, and pre-cautions need to be followed when using sprinklers, because cattle can become dependent on this method which may exacerbate heat stress implications if sprinklers are discontinued or if heat stress conditions are maintained for a long period of time. Secondly, the primary goal for the use of sprinklers is to cool the surface of the pens and provide cattle with a cooler place to stand and lay down, not to cool the cattle down directly. Sprinklers should also be used judiciously to prevent mud and pen maintenance issues. In short, use increased tanks first and always, and sprinklers only in emergency situations.

Giving cattle access to shade, especially in feedlots, is another great way to help cattle beat the heat. This strategy is typically not implemented very quickly and often requires significant investment in infrastructure. Consequently, if you’re going to invest in shade for your operation, do your research and invest in a structure that fits your needs. Shade will improve the comfort of your cattle and it often will limit the need for other interventions during periods of extreme heat.

Q.: What else does USMARC do to accommodate the need of livestock during hot weather?

A.: Here at USMARC, whenever possible, we avoid processing, shipping, or any event that results in physical movement of our cattle during times of extreme heat. This is done for the obvious reason that extra movement by our animals increases body heat and can quickly elevate the amount of heat stress an animal is experiencing. We all know that the need to move cattle in times of heat does not go away and cannot always be put off until another day. Consequently, we strive to have all animal activities completed by 10:30 in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. At the end of the day, doing all we can to provide optimal care and comfort of our livestock is our priority and what we stand for. It has been said that it is only truly fun to be a cowboy for about 60 days a year, but we are stockmen all day, every day.

Thanks Chad! I hope this has provided some valuable information regarding mitigation of heat stress for livestock producers and maybe provided something to think about while you are trying to stay cool this summer!

Sports

Photo by Mackenzie Dahlberg

Alpine Hickstein, junior of Chadron, drives her first swing to begin the qualifying competition, Sunday, Aug. 29, at Ridgeview Country Club.

CSC golfers return to the green

2021 PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL STANDINGS sponsored by

Lunch & Dinner Specials

As of Sept. 1, 2021 1. Colorado School of Mines 2. CSU-Pueblo 3. CHADRON STATE 4. Colorado Mesa 5. Western Colorado 6. South Dakota Mines 7. Adams State 8. New Mexico Highlands 9. Black Hills State 10. Fort Lewis

u By Mackenzie Dahlberg

Sports Editor

Chadron State golfers begin their drive through the green, returning with the same roster as last year.

The Eagles golf team started practice with a fundraiser, Friday, followed by qualifying play, Sunday, which will determine who the team’s top five girls are after playing through the holes at Ridgeview Country Club.

“They have to handle the pressure from the get-go,” Head Women’s Golf Coach John Ritzen said. “It’ll be interesting. Once we watch them play a little bit, we’ll start to get into some certain things we want to improve on.”

Due to the sport taking place in both the fall and spring, the golfers don’t get to come back early like other fall sports and start practicing. Please see Golf, page 16

Athletes Weekof the

Cole Thurness

Hometown: Rapid City, South Dakota Class: Senior Sport: Football

Thurness earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American from career performances and a higher GPA than 3.3. His career stats are currently 1,911 receiving yards, 139 receptions, and 19 touchdown.

Alpine Hickstein

Hometown: Chadron Class: Junior Sport: Golf

Hickstein was named one of eight women’s golfers awarded All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Second Team, on April 29. She finished the 202021 season with a stroke average of 78.8, won two tournaments and finished top-10 three other times.

2021 PRE-SEASON VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS

As of Sept. 1, 2021

1. Colorado Mesa 2. MSU-Denver 3. Colorado Mines 4. Regis 5. CSU-Pueblo 6. Colorado Christian 7. South Dakota Mines T8. UCCS T8. Western Colorado 10. Black Hills State 11. Fort Lewis 12. CHADRON STATE