That’s why farmers implement so many tactics to help keep cows cool and comfortable in the heat of summer. There are the obvious things we utilize like access to shade, fresh water, and fans; however, we also incorporate misters, obsessive fly control (to avoid added stress on the cows), tweak schedules to capitalize on cooler times of the day, and use sand bedding that cuts down on bacteria growth.
As for the farmers and their families? Once the cows are situated for the day, or when the work is wrapped up for the night, farm families have their own ways of beating the heat.
Beyond soaking in the air conditioning while eating a bowl of ice cream or watermelon, there are other ways to cool down on the farm, especially for the kids. Rides on the four-wheeler with wind blowing through your hair are always a good time. A healthy arsenal of popsicles is also always at the ready. Skipping rocks in the creek provides entertainment while cooling down. And, getting creative to make pools or other fun water areas is child’s play for creative, resourceful farmers with grandkids to entertain.
No matter what methods you use to keep cool this holiday weekend, please keep our livestock, as well as the farmers looking out for them, in mind.
The author dairy farms with her parents and brother near Hawkeye, Iowa. The family milks approximately 300 head of grade Holstein cows at Windsor Valley Dairy LLC — split half and half between a double-eight parallel milking parlor and four robotic milking units. In the spring of 2020, Molly decided to take a leap and fully embrace her love for the industry by returning full time to her family’s dairy.
