Preparing your Pastures for the Summer Heat Wave

The grazing season lasts from spring to fall and is mostly a time of plentiful growth. However, as with every kind of agricultural venture, grazing is not without its challenges. That is perhaps most notable during the summer when the heat is at its highest and our pastures are at their most stressed. That makes summer very delicate time of year. It is essential to properly manage to finish the grazing season off strong. Helping your animals in higher heat condition, managing your pastures at lower production levels and having contingency plans in case of drought ensures your pastures stay alive and well through the summer slump. =

Maybe the most obvious thing to help keep animals cool on hot days is to make sure they are near water. With the use of water wagons or livestock waterlines, animals need a way to hydrate in the pasture. If you intend on using a water wagon, checking it often is the key to making sure animals don’t run out of water. Additionally waterlines are great for providing constant access to water across the entire field. They are either placed directly underground or get overgrown with forages at the surface so the pipe tends to stay cooler than one might think.

Having shaded areas are another great way to keep animals from overheating but if these areas are in your pasture, it is important to keep them moving so they don’t overgraze or trample that area. It is also important to be careful when letting animals into wooded areas. If they are left for too long in these areas, they can do a lot of damage to the woods themselves. 

Some of our ruminant animals, especially sheep, tend to be more resilient to warmer conditions than we give them credit for. Despite that, it is still important to monitor the health and wellbeing of your animals during severe times of the year. Knowing the specifics of your animals and consulting a veterinarian is a great start to keeping the needs of your animals in focus. Keeping a vet in the loop with your operation who can provide actionable advice will help to not only protect your farm but give you peace of mind. Moving animals often is a great way to keep animals cool. Taller grass tend to stay cooler than shorter grasses and lowers the temperature of the soil underneath. The act of moving animals encourages the herd or flock to graze fresh forage, so rotating during the late afternoon or early evening can keep them cooler. This is important as cattle and sheep generate a lot of internal body heat during digestion so eating cooler forages during cooler times of the day can lower the stress of the animals. 

Keeping your animals cooler and close to water is only one part of the equation. We also have to acknowledge that our pastures are going to see a drop in productivity. The best way to keep this concern under wraps is to plan for it before you set up your grazing system. Using drought tolerant grasses such as smooth brome and maintaining 30-40% legume stand in the pasture can help to keep your pastures productive during the summer months. Legumes tend to do better in warmer temperatures than cool season grasses and stand out very well in the summertime. All the same, moving your animals quicker through the system or giving them bigger areas each day can help to reduce the impact on your fields. If you plan on giving them bigger areas per day, make sure you plan that accordingly, otherwise you can run out of pasture fast. 

All of the points provided so far have been an attempt to keep the animals on your pastures but what happens when your forages are too stunted or get overgrazed? In those cases, it may be best to remove the animals from the pasture temporarily until the heatwave dies down. Having a sacrifice area (an area you don’t mind having heavily used) near some shade or buildings can be a great alternative. Here you can concentrate water and feed in a place where you can keep a closer eye on heat exhaustion and other sicknesses. Make sure to select an area of your farm that does not pose any environmental risk such as water quality. Once these animals leave, it is important to try and rehabilitate these areas to avoid negative environmental impacts like erosion and runoff. It also helps to rotate your sacrifice areas if and when possible. Another option is putting the animals under a roof or in a building with good airflow. Once again feeding the animals on hay and providing water will be needed. 

The basics of managing pastures in spring, summer and fall are all very similar but each season provides unique situations to consider. Summer can provide some challenges to grazing with its tendency of high heat and low precipitation. However, if properly managed, your animals and forages will make it out just fine. Reaching out to a grazing planner is another great way to help plan for different challenges that can present themselves throughout the year. The good news is, once you get past the heat of summer, the temperature cool off and your pasture productivity increases. These are the signs of summer giving way to fall.