I don’t know about you, but I have not enjoyed the recent 100 degree heat wave. Most likely, cattle in the area have not enjoyed it either. Cattle have a temperature comfort zone that ranges from zero to seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature rises above 75 degrees, cattle begin to experience levels of heat stress. They can generally cope with this heat stress until the temperature reaches 90 degrees. After that many cattle begin to exhibit noticeable signs of heat stress. One of these signs is for the cattle to reduce consumption of feedstuffs. There are some management tactics that have been used in an effort to maintain feed intake.
Maintain an ample water supply. Cattle will drink more water when they are suffering from heat stress. The extra water consumption helps the animal dissipate body heat, through sweating and urination. It is important to make certain that cattle have adequate mineral during these times, as the increased urination removes minerals from the body. Feedlot cattle should have at least three linear inches of water trough space per animal in the pen, during periods of extreme heat. Some producers will add extra water tanks in the pens. Others have lined feed bunks with plastic and filled them with water. The water should be fresh and clean. This will promote dinking. Cattle do not like the taste of stale, dirty water. Also, it is beneficial to provide cool water. The rumen temperature can be influenced by the temperature of water that is consumed. In turn, the animal’s blood temperature reflects the rumen temperature and signals the nerve centers in the brain that control feed consumption. Therefore, the consumption of cool water can increase feed consumption.
Another way to maintain feed intake during hot periods is to add and adjust feeding times. Fresh feed is generally more palatable to cattle than feed that has been in the bunk for a while. This is especially true when silage or fats are included in the ration. So by feeding less feed, more times per day you can increase the amount of time that available feed is fresh. Another feed-time factor relates to temperature patterns during the day. During hot periods, cattle will eat more when the daily temperature is decreasing. So if you feed 70 percent of the day’s total ration between two and four hours following the peak heat of the day, cattle are more likely to maintain intake. Research suggests that this late day feeding schedule can help prevent sub-clinical acidosis during heat waves.
In theory, digestibility and quality of feedstuffs can also be factors in maintaining feed intake during excessively warm periods. Producers often refer to “hot” and “cool” feeds. Typically, hot feeds refer to high energy items, like corn; while cool feeds are low energy, such as grass hay or straw. Many feeders don’t like to back cattle down from hot rations, once they have stepped the animals up to a new level. However, research suggests that lowering the energy level of a ration, or switching to a storm ration, during periods of heat stress can reduce the animal’s metabolic heat load. On the other side of this argument, concentrates like corn are far more digestible than the cool feeds. This infers that the heat of digestion that is created when feedstuffs are broke down is less significant when cattle are consuming grain when compared to forage digestion.
These are just a few thoughts to consider when feeding cattle during heat stressed times. There are many other management practices that can help your livestock in hot weather. I hope that you find this article helpful and feel free to contact your local Colorado State University Extension office if you have questions about this.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Stock Tank Algae Control
About this time of year I begin getting calls regarding how to control algae growth in stock tanks. Algae growth is a fact of summer for livestock water tanks in Eastern Colorado. Before talking about controlling it, let’s talk about trying to limit some of the algae growth.
There are some basic essentials that algae require to grow in a stock tank. The most obvious is water and we can’t do much about that. Next, warm temperatures and sunlight dramatically promote algae growth. Some producers will build shade over their stock tanks to help with this issue. However, that creates an added expense and may cause problems with livestock trying to utilize that shade on hot days. Finally, algae needs some form of nutrients to sustain itself. This can come from livestock slobbers, animals urinating or defecating in a tank, and debris being blown into the tank. Part of this is unpreventable, but fencing or rails can be utilized to prevent livestock from entering a stock tank and introducing nutrients. If using rails, make certain they are positioned low enough that a cow can’t slip underneath the rail.
Once you have an algae problem in your stock tank, there are some treatment methods that you can utilize. There are numerous commercial products on the market. However, a generic approach to chemical treatment is often times cheaper. (Remember that chemical treatments may change the taste of the water for a period of time. Also, these need to be mixed thoroughly within the tank for a few minutes before livestock are allowed access. Don’t just dump it in one part of the tank and drive off.)
Chlorine Bleach: Sodium hypochlorite (5.25%), which is what many of the standard laundry bleaches (only use unscented) are made of, can be effective. You will need to add 2 to 3 ounces of the 5.25% sodium hypochlorite for each 100 gallons of tank capacity. Be sure to mix the tank water well after adding the bleach. This should be repeatedly weekly. When temperatures are abnormally hot and when a lot of organic material exists in the tank, the sodium hypochlorite will dissipate more rapidly and may require multiple treatments per week.
Copper Sulfate: Copper sulfate is a popular algae control and is found in many of the commercial products. It will often come in a crystal form and needs to be dissolved in warm to hot water before making the treatment. Typically, 1.5 teaspoons should be dissolved in 4.5 ounces of water for each 1000 gallons of tank capacity that will be treated. This mixture is then poured throughout the tank. Treatment should be repeated in two to four weeks, depending on algae growth. Algae killed using this method should be removed from the tank and hauled out of the grazing area, as it may contain very high copper & sulfur levels. The use of copper sulfate is not recommended when sheep will be consuming the water, as sheep have a low tolerance for copper and this treatment may be toxic to more copper sensitive sheep. Another important note is that copper sulfate can increase the rate of deterioration of metal tanks and pipes.
Zinc Sulfate: Zinc sulfate is another chemical treatment. Again, the material needs to be dissolved in warm to hot water before being added to the tank. In the case of zinc sulfate, dissolve one cup in one gallon of water. Then thoroughly mix into the tank ½ cup of the solution for every 100 gallons of tank capacity. Repeat as needed.
Biological Control: In these times of consumer concerns over what is in their meat, more and more producers are turning to herbivore consuming aquatic life to maintain reduced algae levels in stock tanks, as opposed to chemical treatments. One of the more common resources is the goldfish. It will take 4 to 6 goldfish for every 100 gallons of tank capacity. Other aquarium species can be more expensive ($3 to $6 each) but still effective. Some of these are the Black Mollies, Otocinclus Catfish, and my personal favorite the plecostomus. Some varieties of plecos, like the Trinidad Pleco, can grow to near a foot in length and spend a surprising amount of their time foraging.
While these biological control techniques do offer a good marketing statement for those selling in all natural programs, they still create issues. First, you are trading algae for fish feces in your tank. Secondly, fishing predators (raccoons, cats, birds, etc.) may become attracted to your stock tank & treatment technique. Thirdly, if you are changing pastures throughout the grazing season you will need to move the fish. Finally, you will need to have a plan for caring for the fish during the winter months.
Cattle Heat Stress
The past week the weather has been HOT, and the forecast is calling for some very warm temperatures for the next week. These hot days can make us uncomfortable but have you thought about how your cattle feel about it?
Bos taurus cattle, the type generally used in Colorado beef production, do not tolerate heat and humidity as well as humans do. The young beef animal has a thermal comfort zone that ranges from 45 to 80°F. When you look at the thermal comfort zone for mature cows and feedlot cattle you can expect it to range from 0 to 75°F. Additionally, you must take into consideration the animal’s nutrition level, body condition, hair length and coat color; as these can all shift the animal’s comfort zone levels.
Anytime that the temperature hits 90°F you can expect that your cattle may be suffering from some level of heat stress. An increase in humidity can make this threat greater, even at more moderate temperatures. I would recommend that cattle producers acquire a Temperature Humidity Index (THI) table and use it as a heat stress monitoring tool. You can use this table to compare temperature and humidity to see what combinations are dangerous and critical. Whenever a THI value on the table indicates 79 or higher, extra diligence in observing the condition of your cattle is warranted.
When temperature and/or humidity begin to rise, monitor your cattle for signs of heat stress. These animals may move about looking for a more comfortable area. Additionally, they may begin to slobber and have a respiration rate of more than 100 breaths per minute. Often times heat stressed cattle will hold their head high in an effort to breathe easier and stand facing into the sun, limiting the amount of solar radiation that hits their body. Another important heat stress factor is the low temperature for the 24-hour period. Cattle rely on a cool down at night to be able to remove heat from their bodies. A six hour period below 70°F is needed to regulate body temperature following a critical heat stress day.
Cattle that are suffering from heat stress may consume two to three gallons of water for every 100 pounds of body weight. These large amounts of water allow cattle to sweat and urinate more than usual. This is considered to be the quickest and most efficient way that cattle have to cool themselves. The increased water need may require that the manager provides additional water tanks. Research conducted with feedlot animals has suggested that providing an additional three linear inches of water space per animal can be a lifesaving management practice during a heat wave. As always, make sure that the water is clean. During a period of heat stress you do not want to take any chances that cattle will refuse water.
Other important management practices to consider during critical periods of heat stress are airflow manipulation, shifting of schedules (early am cattle handling and late evening feedings), and possibly even building shade and providing a water mist, in extreme situations.
Bos taurus cattle, the type generally used in Colorado beef production, do not tolerate heat and humidity as well as humans do. The young beef animal has a thermal comfort zone that ranges from 45 to 80°F. When you look at the thermal comfort zone for mature cows and feedlot cattle you can expect it to range from 0 to 75°F. Additionally, you must take into consideration the animal’s nutrition level, body condition, hair length and coat color; as these can all shift the animal’s comfort zone levels.
Anytime that the temperature hits 90°F you can expect that your cattle may be suffering from some level of heat stress. An increase in humidity can make this threat greater, even at more moderate temperatures. I would recommend that cattle producers acquire a Temperature Humidity Index (THI) table and use it as a heat stress monitoring tool. You can use this table to compare temperature and humidity to see what combinations are dangerous and critical. Whenever a THI value on the table indicates 79 or higher, extra diligence in observing the condition of your cattle is warranted.
When temperature and/or humidity begin to rise, monitor your cattle for signs of heat stress. These animals may move about looking for a more comfortable area. Additionally, they may begin to slobber and have a respiration rate of more than 100 breaths per minute. Often times heat stressed cattle will hold their head high in an effort to breathe easier and stand facing into the sun, limiting the amount of solar radiation that hits their body. Another important heat stress factor is the low temperature for the 24-hour period. Cattle rely on a cool down at night to be able to remove heat from their bodies. A six hour period below 70°F is needed to regulate body temperature following a critical heat stress day.
Cattle that are suffering from heat stress may consume two to three gallons of water for every 100 pounds of body weight. These large amounts of water allow cattle to sweat and urinate more than usual. This is considered to be the quickest and most efficient way that cattle have to cool themselves. The increased water need may require that the manager provides additional water tanks. Research conducted with feedlot animals has suggested that providing an additional three linear inches of water space per animal can be a lifesaving management practice during a heat wave. As always, make sure that the water is clean. During a period of heat stress you do not want to take any chances that cattle will refuse water.
Other important management practices to consider during critical periods of heat stress are airflow manipulation, shifting of schedules (early am cattle handling and late evening feedings), and possibly even building shade and providing a water mist, in extreme situations.
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