By: Drh Yayuk Kholifah
Functional: (First Veterinary Medic)
Similar to humans, daily weather can affect the health and comfort of cattle. Hot and humid air conditions can lead to cattle stress. Cattle stressed due to heat become uncomfortable, refuse to eat, experience reduced milk production in dairy cows, and calves in such conditions may not grow well. Furthermore, extremely hot weather can result in cattle deaths.
Very cold and wet weather conditions can also cause stress in cattle. Cold temperatures or prolonged heavy rainfall or storms can lead to pneumonia in cattle, and their calorie requirements increase to maintain body temperature. If cattle don't get enough food to maintain their body temperature, they will use fat and muscle tissue to generate needed energy, leading to weight loss and susceptibility to stress-related diseases.
Hot weather can result in serious health issues for cattle, especially in hot and humid conditions. Problems can range from infertility to death.
Cattle in extremely hot weather can lose weight because they eat less and expend energy through heavy breathing to cool their bodies. The ideal neutral temperature where animals don't require extra energy to warm or cool their bodies is around 20-21°C (thermoneutral). If the temperature significantly falls or rises from the thermoneutral range, cattle need extra energy to maintain normal body processes. How effectively a cow regulates body heat depends on various factors including breed, coat length, age, body condition score (BCS), nutrition, pregnancy status, and overall health.
Cattle from the Bos indicus species such as Brahman and Ongole (originating from India and Asia) are more heat-tolerant and have a lower risk of heat-related issues. They have more sweat glands and certain metabolic differences that help them manage temperature increases. Cattle from the Bos taurus species are more prone to stress from hot environments unless crossed with Bos indicus cattle.
Cattle with lighter body colors (e.g., Brahman, Ongole) tend to handle heat better than those with dark coats (e.g., Angus) due to light reflection reducing heat absorption. Conversely, cattle with light-colored coats have a higher risk of sunburn.
Dark-colored coats absorb more heat as they have a harder time reflecting environmental heat. For instance, Angus cattle tend to have higher body temperatures of up to 40°C in hot weather, while in the same environment, lighter-colored cattle maintain normal body temperatures (38.6-38.9°C).
If an animal's body temperature continues to rise to the critical point of 41.7°C, cattle experience respiratory failure, and their hearts will stop beating. When body temperature reaches this critical point, cattle can suffer a heat stroke, especially if they don't have enough water to maintain normal blood pressure.
Very large cattle are also susceptible to heat stress. Cattle with more muscle mass produce more heat compared to those with less muscle. The larger the muscle mass, the more heat the body generates, and their body surface area may not offset the heat increase caused by excessive muscle mass.
Indonesia has a tropical climate with warm or hot temperatures and high humidity. Therefore, for Indonesian livestock farmers looking to develop large or small-scale cattle farming, carefully considering the choice of cattle breed that adapts to the Indonesian climate and weather conditions is crucial.