When temperatures soar into the 90s- like they did on Monday- it’s not just Butler County residents who need to keep cool.
The American Dairy Association North East region says many people might not realize that dairy cows are extremely sensitive to heat and actually prefer cooler temperatures. Cows can start to experience heat stress when temps are as low as 68 degrees.
The association says practices differ from farm-to-farm, but the four most common ways farmers attempt to keep their cows cool include misters and sprinklers near feeding lines and holding pens, large fans, cool water, and shade via barns.
On a typical day, a dairy cow might drink anywhere between 30 and 50 gallons of water. During periods of heat stress, that number may double.
