Heat

[Tim Watson]

This seems a little surreal when only recently we were talking about how much snow we all had but here in North Devon we have close to 80deg today.
How susceptible are Dexters to heat? They are known for being able to outwinter but little is said about their performance in heat (although clearly Margaret's don't seem to have an issue?)
Our two (such a large problem!! :D ) our out in a yard behind one of the barns that has what little breze there is today and has sun and shade at all times of the day. Whatever field they were in, I would always make sure that there was shade from a shelter belt or hedge and it goes without saying that water is ad lib.
Do they need extra salts etc to combat dehydration? They get two handfulls of suckler cow rolls morning and evening to make sure they get their minerals.
All guidance gratefully received.
Thanks

[Saffy]

Hello Tim,

As long as they have water and shade they are fine but new calves sometimes find a hot day a bit too much and if there isn't really good shade it can be best to bring them in. You would know if a new calf wasn't getting enough shade - poor little things start to pant! It happened with one of mine once, every time the calf went and lay in shade the cow moved to another part of the field, so I brought her in for the hottest part of the day for a few days.

Stephanie

[Marg Rawlings]

Hi Everyone
We lived in one of the hottest areas in the central wheatbelt in Western Australia and our cows would endure temperatures of 45 degrees C for days on end, with only hot winds. And on extremes the temperature would creep up to 48 degrees. They always had access to shade from large trees and plenty of water. We would feed them early in the morning and late dropping on dark so that they were not exposed to too much hot sun. They survived fine.

In winter it would get to -4 degrees C overnight temperatures, but no snow, and some days only get to 9 degrees. So we did get the extremes. Dexters are particularly hardy and that is one of the reasons we love them so much.

Your cows will be fine.

Marg Rawlings

[Broomcroft]

Here's a pic when it was 37 deg C in Shropshire a few years ago......cows were fine but the grass suffered! They would come and empty the large water trough in one go, so had to install a second.





Edited By Broomcroft on 1271141312

[wagra dexters]

Tim, our stock are well hidden in the shadows before the heat of the day descends on the paddocks.
Once the cattle have decided to siesta there is nothing on earth can shift them until the cool of the evening.
They thrive in the heat but should have access to shade, in our climate at least.
They sleep or chew the day away, and catch up on their eating time in the dark.
Margaret