By University of Missouri Extension Service
This is the time of year when cattle producers need to pay extra attention to heat stress in their operations, says University of Missouri Extension beef specialist Eric Bailey.
Unlike many other animals, cattle can’t rid their bodies of heat by sweating. Instead, they pant. Heat-stressed cattle show symptoms such as open-mouth breathing, slobbering and restlessness, Bailey says. Chronic heat stress leads to long-term problems such as decreased fertility and weight gain