Heat kills several cows at UNL extension campus

ITHACA, Neb. (KLKN) – A number of cattle at a University of Nebraska-Lincoln research site died Tuesday due to the record heatwave making its way across the state.

It happened at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Ithaca.

UNL attending veterinarian Dr. Kelly Heath said staff had been tracking the incoming weather for days and prepared for the forecast.

The team adjusted food sources, provided additional water and more.

Staff even filled a truck with water and sprinkled the pens to help the cattle keep cool.

“We provide bedding in some of the pens as well,” Heath said.

Just like humans, cows have to regulate their body heat when they’re outside. But it can be a challenge when temperatures do not cool in the evening.

“So their body temperature naturally raises during the day. The heat of digestion, the heat of the sun, the heat index outside,” Heath said. “These animals are outside all day and night. So, during the night, they don’t get any cooling that actually lets their body temperature return back to normal.”

Heath said cows also do not like to compete at the water tank.

“That’s why we put out an extra space to try to mitigate that,” Heath said.

But even with extra tanks set out, much like a horse, you can lead a cow to water, but you cannot make it drink.

He said further precautions are in place to ensure the cows are protected as best as possible as the heat moves out of the state.

Heath said incidents like this happen across the country.

“Cattle actually adapt fairly well to a short heat, but when you start adding several days in a row together, they just run out of the ability to adapt,” he said.