Author
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BROWN-BRANDL, TAMI |
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Submitted to: Midwestern Section of the American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2012 Publication Date: 3/19/2012 Citation: Brown Brandl, T.M. 2012. Management of heat stress in the livestock industry [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 90(Suppl. 2):68. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Heat stress costs the animal industry over $1.7 billion annually. Annual losses average $369 million in the beef cattle industry and $299 million in the swine industry. The impacts of a single heat stress event on individual animals are quite varied. Brief events often cause little or no effect. Moderate events cause reductions in feed intake, growth, and well-being. Extreme events can lead to death of vulnerable animals. The level of heat stress an animal experiences can be broken down into three primary factors: animal susceptibility, environmental conditions, and management strategies. Many management strategies have been developed for the beef feedlot industry; however, due to the costs associated with their implementation, very few are being used. Breaking down the problem of heat stress into its core components may aid in development of new applications of existing strategies. This presentation will provide an overview of the positive and negative aspects of current management strategies, and will discuss how precision animal management techniques might impact management strategies within the livestock industry. |
