In the heat waves leading up to the New Year and through January, Cowra Vet Centre says pet owners and farmers have reported animals showing visible signs of heat stress.
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Lethargic dogs, opened mouthed chooks and other birds panting, sheep and cattle hugging shade in preference to grazing, are some examples of the stressed behavior.
“While daytime December temperatures have hovered in a normal range of mid to high 30’s, the high overnight temperatures have been the cause of the animals’ discomfort,” say veterinarian partners Peter Launders and Kellie Seres.
“Overnight is generally the time when animals are able to expel heat and cope with the following day’s hot sun.
“But these recent temperatures have not been low enough for our animals to cool down naturally,” Mr Launders.
“As it gets hotter, animals try to find ways to get heat out of their bodies.
“Serious heat stress occurs when they can’t cool down over prolonged periods of time,” he said.
Heat stress leads to a decline in farm productivity in several ways.
Animals eat less and therefore growth rates decline. Stock require more water when water sources may be low or scarce.
Sheep may also experience fertility problems.
Extreme heat can kill embryos in ewes and sperm in rams.
“All pets should have access to plenty of water to bathe in as well as drink. It is a requirement for all feedlots to provide shade and shelter for stock and I recommend farmers and graziers do the same at this time of year,” Ms Seres said.
Australian National University, Fenner School scientist, Geoffrey Kay says we are experiencing more emergency heat stress days from November through to March than ever before.
“It appears the season of heat stress on animals has grown both in duration and intensity”, Mr Kay said.
“It is likely these episodes of severe heat will increase in future years. I recommend all graziers plant trees in paddocks lacking shade,” he said.