Thousands of cattle in Kansas died over the weekend amid a sizzling heat wave and high humidity levels that continue to threaten livestock in one …
Thousands of cattle in Kansas died over the weekend amid a sizzling heat wave and high humidity levels that continue to threaten livestock in one of the nation’s top cattle-producing states. There were at least 2,000 cattle deaths in southwest Kansas over the weekend, Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokesperson Matthew Lara told USA TODAY in a statement. The deaths were reported to the department by facilities that reached out for help disposing of the carcasses. Much of Kansas saw heat advisories amid triple-digit temperatures and high humidity Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The heat itself is not abnormal for Kansas and cattle are typically able to tolerate it relatively well, said A.J. Tarpoff, associate professor and beef extension veterinarian for Kansas State University. The heat combined with reduced cooling winds and high humidity created harsh conditions for the cattle, he said. A relatively mild spring may have also prevented the animals from properly adapting to higher temperatures, Tarpoff added.
« Some cattle may not have fully shed their winter coats by now, which would interfere with their ability to dissipate heat », he said. Signs of heat stress in cattle include heavy breathing, open-mouth breathing, spending more time standing and restlessness, Michael Kleinhenz, assistant professor of beef production medicine at Kansas State University, said in an email to USA TODAY.
