Impact of shade in beef feedyards on performance, ear temperature, and heat stress measures

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2023-01, Vol.101
• Main Authors: Winders, Thomas M, Melton, Brett A, Boyd, Bradley M, Macken, Casey N, Watson, Andrea K, MacDonald, James C, Erickson, Galen E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; Body Temperature; Body Weight; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Diet - veterinary; Dry matter; Ear; Heat; Heat stress; Heat Stress Disorders - veterinary; Heat tolerance; Heat-Shock Response; Pens; Shade; Temperature; Temperature effects; Thermoregulatory behavior
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad004

Abstract A 2-yr study (year 1: March to September 2017; year 2: February to August 2018) was conducted using crossbred steers (year 1: n = 1677; initial body weight [BW] = 372 kg, SD = 47; year 2: n = 1713; initial BW = 379 kg, SD = 10) in a commercial feedyard study in Eastern NE to determine the effects of shade on cattle performance, ear temperature, and cattle activity. Two treatments were evaluated using a randomized complete block design (n = 5 blocks based on arrival). Treatments were assigned randomly to pens and consisted of five pens without shade (NO SHADE) and five pens with shade (SHADE). Ear temperatures were collected throughout the trials using biometric sensing ear tags on a subset of cattle. Panting scores were collected using a 5 point scale determined visually based on the level of panting occurring on the same subset of steers a minimum of twice weekly from June 8 to August 21 in year 1 and May 29 to July 24 in year 2 by one trained individual each year. In year 1, no differences (P ≥ 0.24) were observed for growth performance or carcass characteristics. Dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) were greater (P ≤ 0.04) for SHADE cattle in year 2. Over the entire feeding period in year 1, greater (P