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Extreme heat kills thousands of cattle in Kansas

2022-06-17T15:40:09.751Z


The high temperatures combined with high humidity and the absence of winds Thousands of cattle have died in Kansas this week as a result of the heat wave that affects much of the United States, according to local authorities. The high temperatures have been combined with high humidity, the absence of winds and probably the lack of water and sufficient care. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has initially put the heat death toll at about 2,000 cattle, but th


Thousands of cattle have died in Kansas this week as a result of the heat wave that affects much of the United States, according to local authorities.

The high temperatures have been combined with high humidity, the absence of winds and probably the lack of water and sufficient care.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has initially put the heat death toll at about 2,000 cattle, but the number could be considerably higher.

The initial death toll is based on requests for help authorities have received to dispose of the bodies.

Ranchers are not required to report deaths.

The media specialized in livestock information DTN raises the estimate to around 10,000 deaths, citing sources in the sector.

The Kansas Cattlemen's Association did not provide its own calculation to questions from this newspaper.

DTM points out that the most affected area is the area around Ulysses, in the southwest of the State.

Kansas, located almost in the geographic center of the United States, has about 2.4 million head of cattle, according to data cited by Reuters.

It is the third cattle state in the country, behind Texas and Nebraska.

The State has suffered temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius this week.

To this has been added unusually high humidity and the absence of wind, a kind of perfect storm.

In recent days, a video has been circulating on social networks in which dozens of carcasses are seen that have been repeatedly attributed to the State of Kansas, but that EL PAÍS has not been able to verify that it corresponds to the current episode or obtain confirmation from the Department of Health and Environment or the Kansas Cattlemen's Association.

Temperatures of up to 42 degrees are also expected this weekend, but the humidity and wind conditions will be more favorable, reducing the risk of cattle deaths.

The heat wave will spread across most of the country.

Episodes of heat deaths of cattle are not uncommon in Kansas, although this time it has been larger.

The Kansas Cattlemen's Association explains that controlling air temperature, humidity, wind speed and cloud cover is an important part of managing cattle heat stress.

Nighttime low temperatures above 23 degrees Celsius do not allow cattle to cool down adequately, requiring further observation and possibly intervention the following day.

To combat the effects of the heat, farmers are recommended to modify their feeding times, so that they eat as late as possible and digest at night, when temperatures drop somewhat more.

It is also recommended to facilitate airflow through the accumulation of fewer livestock, the removal of barriers to air circulation, the installation of shade structures and sprinklers, and the provision of abundant water.

Extreme weather is also affecting other parts of the United States with severe storms and flooding.

The Yellowstone National Park, in the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, in the northeast of the country, has had to be closed after the floods and floods caused by the rains and rapid melting.

The water currents have overflowed their banks in numerous places and have washed away sections of roads and other infrastructure.

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Source: elparis

All news articles on 2022-06-17

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