Heat stress is the body’s reaction to a combination of environmental factors: ambient temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind. In beef cattle, this stress can negatively affect production and profitability.
According to studies, temperatures above 27°C coupled with high humidity can cause heat stress in cattle. This can impair breeding efficiency by lowering milk production, reducing feed intake and limiting weight gain. In the worst-case scenario, heat stress may increase the chances of illness and even cause death.
US scientists have developed a temperature-humidity index (THI) to warn producers in time about heat stress periods in the near future. Unfortunately, wind speed, which plays an important role in cooling down cattle, is not part of the index.
The THI and the Livestock Safety Index (LSI) generate the following warnings:
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