This winter (or summer in Australia) animal advocates called for “all farmers to be required to provide their livestock with shade.”1 With spring here and summer right around the corner, this is an important issue. However, why that wasn’t a given is beyond me.
“Concerns were raised about farm animals suffering from heat stress this month after photos emerged of cattle crowding under small patches of shade on properties.
The issue led a group of Queenslanders to create the campaign ‘Animals Need Shade’, however, not everyone is convinced by the images.”1
A petition was lodged with the Queensland government to make changes to the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 over what the law currently considers “adequate shelter” for outdoor livestock. Morika Elek, the campaign founder, was motivated to take action after seeing animals standing in the blazing summer heat without shade.
Keep this is mind, if you can’t stand the heat, they likely can’t stand it either. And you have a choice to go indoors- they do not.
“…cows begin to experience the effects of heat stress when their body temperature reaches 68℉ (21℃) at 75 per cent relative humidity. The average annual temperature in many parts of Queensland is 29°C.
Dairy NZ says cows can experience headaches and lethargy when they are suffering from heat stroke. Their food intake and milk production can also decrease.”1
According to the research I did, farmers here in the U.S. aren’t required to provide their farm animals shade. Let’s hope this issue can get the attention it needs so that farmers are forced to provide for their animals.
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