Heat, humidity kill at least 2,000 Kansas cattle, state says

[Farmer-Rick]

6. My understanding is that cattle are more susceptible to over heating

Than other animals.

A farmer who had a dairy told me if not taken care of, cows can suffer heat stress at temperatures in the 70s. With milk cows it was the gathering together in holding pens before milking that was the most dangerous times for overheating.

This dairy farmer used sprinklers, fans and lots of shade to keep his herd cool in normal summertime temperatures. He's currently selling his dairy and sold off his cows last year. He said he's glad he didn't have to deal with this heatwave.

I raise sheep and since they are hair sheep, I don't have a problem with them overheating. But I provide plenty of shade and water for them. There's also this protected stream, shadowed by mountains, on my property that acts as a heat sink and rarely gets warmer than in the 70s that the sheep hang out by to keep cool.

But cattle are very large animals that are very susceptible to heat stress.