From the Field
Notes from your regional managers on summer heat management for your herd.
June 18, 2025
Step outside your door this time of year and it may feel if the heat doesn’t microwave you first, the insects might attempt to carry you (and potentially your cattle) off. All joking aside, heat — whether the dry heat of Nevada and California; the humidity of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida; or the mix experienced in Kansas and Oklahoma — takes a toll on livestock, forages and those who care for both.
In this month’s edition of “From the Field,” we visited with regional managers David Gazda, Jeff Mafi and Landon Andrews to discuss summer heat management for your herd, what to be on the lookout for when it feels like the outdoors might be melting and more.
Keeping tabs on heat
It’s no secret heat can have serious effects on cattle, whether in the feedlot or out on pasture. It’s also no secret cattlemen are problem-solvers. In the case of Western producers, bringing shade to the herd is a popular option.
“In California, there are very few pastures I walk into that don’t have some kind of shade cloth structure,” notes Landon Andrews, regional manager for Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. “Not many people have enclosed structures, but these shade cloths can be very helpful.”
Calving in the winter is challenging, but calving in the summer offers its own unique set of concerns.
“[Our California producers] watch their cattle tight when they’re calving in summer,” Andrews says, noting the instincts cows rely on to care for their calves in his region are interesting to watch. “Our producers talk about instincts of those cows. They’ll calve wherever, but then they’ll clean up their calf and move to shade. Mother Nature is pretty cool.”
It’s not just young calves that need to be monitored when the heat rises. Ensuring bulls, especially younger ones, are set up for success before the heat index rises can save future heartache.
“[These bulls] need to be in good shape. If a producer has their bulls turned out, but the bulls have to travel too far for water, that heat is going to take it out of them,” notes Andrews, while also calling attention to the fact bulls might rest in the heat of the day but are still getting their job done. “I think if bulls are around long enough, they know what cows are in heat and whether they have time to get them bred.”
Forages and flies
Two things summer brings a focus to: forages and flies. In the case of Western producers, managing both is at the top of the to-do list.
“People are just wrapping up with our first-crop hay right now. The flies are just starting to come on, and they are bad. I would say fly tags are popular in our area, but fly tags and other fly-control methods are going to be important this year.”
Insect control might seem a familiar topic. In the May 2025 edition of “From the Field,” our team visited with Andrew Swanson, Adam Conover and Reese Tuckwiller about common pests in their regions and why developing an insect-control plan early is a must. Click here to revisit that conversation.
Hay season might be a little slow to start in other parts of the country. With good early-season moisture, the rain has kept some hay producers in Oklahoma out of the field.
“We’re very thankful for the moisture, but there hasn’t been much of a hay season so far in parts of Oklahoma,” says Jeff Mafi, regional manager for Oklahoma and Kansas. While additional moisture is worth celebrating, keeping an eye on late-season dry down and potential fire fuel is something that comes along with early season blessings.
According to Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension, wildfires can occur at any time of the year; however, they are most frequent during the dormant season or during periods of drought when fuels are dry. Fuel conditions, fuel loading, fuel arrangement, topography and weather conditions all affect the severity of wildfires.
For more information from OSU Extension regarding managing wildfire risk, click here.
Taking care of the caretaker
We know heat stress doesn’t just affect livestock. But another area David Gazda, regional manager for South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, is an advocate for? Sun safety.
“I’m pretty passionate about this, because I don’t think applying sunscreen and sun safety are something that people think about enough,” stresses Gazda. “We’re out in the sun as much as anybody.”
To read more about farm and ranch safety, including sun safety, we invite you to check out our September 2024 “From the Field” featuring regional managers Quanah Gardiner, Tuckwiller and Gazda.
Editor’s note: “From the Field” is a regular Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA column featuring advice, industry news and Angus updates from regional managers of the American Angus Association. For information on how to contact your regional manager, click here.
Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 17, No. 6-B
Topics: Feedstuffs , Health , Pasture and Forage , Management
Publication: Angus Beef Bulletin
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