When a cow is stressed from the heat, it affects a producer’s bottom line. The animal eats less, meaning less mass in beef cattle. For dairy farmers, the hurt comes in the form of a 10 to 20 percent loss in milk. Researchers at the University of Missouri think some of this can be prevented by putting information in the hands of producers. They’ve built a tool that can detect the threat of heat stress in specific animals before it starts.
Like crops, cattle are wilting in the sweltering summer of 2012. That's why some cattle producers are protecting their herds by putting them hoop barns, simple structures designed to keep cattle protected from the elements.
Farmers and ranchers use the futures market to help manage the risks of being so dependent on Mother Nature. But when their money starts disappearing, can you blame 'em for being a little skittish?
