Nebraska ranchers keep cattle cool as Mother Nature turns up the heat

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Cattle ranchers across the state are in a constant battle with the elements, especially during the summer.

Keeping cows, bulls and steers cool and comfortable when temperatures ramp up is key for the state’s No. 1 industry.

Larry Hudkins, a farmer in Malcolm, already lost a cow to heat this year.

“When we had that 100-degree day,” Hudkins said. “She was an older cow.”

So he’s taking even more precautions to keep the creatures safe.

Larry said he brings out extra water for his cattle to drink and take a little dip.

“They’ll take a swim just like a kid would, but they are creatures that know what their limits are,” Hudkins said. “Probably the main thing is what you see out here, we have trees out in theses pastures, and this morning I moved the cattle in here, where they have plenty of shade.”

Another way to keep cattle cool is to give them salt.

“They do need salt, so just like an athlete, when they sweat a lot, they need salt, so make sure that is there.” Hudkins explained.

A cool breeze can also be beneficial to cattle.

With these creatures traveling in such close quarters, a windy day can almost act like air conditioning, flowing air throughout the herd.

Larry doesn’t like keeping his herd in a barn when it’s hot due to lack of air flow.

“When they huddle together and you don’t have the air movement in there, it’s the same thing during a blizzard in the wintertime,” Hudkins said. “We do not need an enclosed barn. They can cluster too tight, they kind of cluster together, sweat if you will, then they get pneumonia. So we just need a good wind break.”

Hudkins keeps an eye on the temperature and cloud movements, but he said high humidity is the main threat.