Thousands of Cattle Die in Heat Index Crisis

Cattle producers in Southwest Kansas are cleaning up following a natural disaster which occurred on June 11-13, 2022. Contrary to rumors of a conspiracy theory or mystery disease, Mother Nature was the main cause of the deaths of thousands of cattle.

Weather in the days preceding June 11th was relatively mild with high temperatures in the 80s, evening temps cooling down nicely, normal winds and some much needed rain. Then the conditions changed, with temperatures at 100-plus, higher humidity, almost no wind and very little night cooling. For cattle, this sudden change in weather conditions can cause what is known as a heat index crisis.

Most of the cattle that died in area feedlots were close to butcher weight which makes them even more vulnerable to heat stress. The question has been raised as to why so many of the dead cattle were black. Black is known to absorb sunlight and heat making it even more difficult to cool down.

According to Tera Barnhardt, DVM, MS, the feedlot personnel “did everything in their power to save as many animals as they could. We lost a lot of cattle and we are physically affected by each loss because we know first hand the resources and expertise that goes into raising safe, wholesome and delicious beef for our consumers.”

Dr. Barnhardt went on to say that this disaster should not affect the food supply. An article by Victoria G. Myers in the Progressive Farmer claims that early estimates are around 10,000 head of cattle dead in Kansas feedlots, with the largest numbers being from facilities in Grant County, the geographical center of the weather event. There are approximately 2.5 million cattle on feed in the state.