Cattle producers urged to take heat precautions

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Story Created: Jun 29, 2012 at 5:45 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jun 29, 2012 at 6:47 PM CDT

This heat wave we're experiencing can put Nebraska cattle in serious danger. Officials are urging producers to take extra precaution.

Terry Mader, an animal science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, says ranchers and feedlot operators need to take steps to reduce heat stress during the summer.

That includes making sure cattle have enough water.

Mader says a cow's normal intake of 5 to 8 gallons of water a day can double or triple during extreme heat.

Mader says cattle can be sprayed down with water to cool them off.

But if feedlot operators start that, they'll have to continue spraying the cattle until the heat eases.

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