Keeping cattle comfortable and out of the elements contributes to good animal welfare and positively impact the bottom line for cattle producers. Longer, hotter days can lead to heat stress in cattle.
Shade structures represent another purposeful purchase driven by animal welfare and productivity for The 808 Ranch near Anderson, Mo.
After noticing the lack of natural shade on the initial ranch, the Steigers invested in seven 34’x34' shade structures.
“If you’re calving in August in Missouri, it’s hot and humid,” Carl Steiger, The 808 Ranch asset manager, explains, highlighting the importance of providing cattle with protection from extreme temperatures.
Each structure can accommodate 40 to 50 cow-calf pairs.
Steiger recommends ensuring the structures have sufficient concrete weight in their bases to withstand strong winds. He appreciates the fact they are movable to keep mud build up at a minimum.
Keeping Cattle Comfortable and Growing
With no natural shade, Kansas beef producer Trey Ruetti chose to purchase five shade structures for his new 500-head feedyard from Strobel Manufacturing.
Each 40’x40' shade can cover approximately 100 head. He says the structures are remarkably robust, noting they withstood 80 mph wind gusts this summer with no problem.
Recent studies show shade is important for growing cattle comfort and efficiency. Heat stress can create challenges for cattle as their thermal neutral zone is less than humans. Cattle are comfortable with cool temperatures, and more affected by the heat.
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