During extreme hot and humid or dry weather, the animal’s thermoregulatory capacity to dissipate heat by sweating and panting is compromised, causing summer/heat stress.
Severe heat stress can raise body temperature, increase the pulse rate and peripheral blood flow, reduce feed intake and increase water intake.
Heat stress can lead to loss of productivity, reduce breeding efficiency and even loss of life in extreme cases.
Crossbred and exotic breeds of cattle are highly sensitive to heat stress compared to indigenous non-descript animals.
Buffaloes are more prone due to their dark skin that absorbs more solar radiation and they have fewer sweat glands.
Keep the Animals Cool!
Animals must be kept in the shade, especially under trees or a 9-10 foot high thatched roof with good ventilation.
To provide a cooler ambience, the roof can be thatched with paddy/sorghum straw, sugarcane trash, etc., painted white or a false ceiling insulation provided.
Create barriers against hot winds using a thatched wall or by hanging wet gunny cloth/bags sprinkled with water.
Heat stress can be managed by spraying/sprinkling water on the animal for 2-5 minutes at 45-60 minutes intervals.
Misting/fogging of water in the microenvironment of the animal, fans/blowers too can be used in sheds.
Wallowing in ponds is the most effective way of combating heat stress in buffaloes.
Drinking water should be provided to the animals round the clock and in the shade.
Feed the animals early in the morning, evening and night.
Grazing is preferable early in the morning and late evening to avoid the scorching heat.
Increase ration density to provide optimum nutrients during heat stress. Low fibre and high fermentable carbohydrate diets have lower dietary heat increment compared to high fibre diets.
A potassium-rich mineral mixture is preferred to ensure increased mineral supplementation during hot weather to meet the increased demand for minerals.
