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Know the signs of heat stress with your cattle

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska cattle producers need to watch for signs of heat stress in their animals during periods of extreme heat like the state has been enduring.

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.

Making sure cattle have enough water is crucial. Mader says cattle’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.

Mader says producers should also avoid handling cattle when it’s hot because that can add to the stress.

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