Dean Lauren, Tarpoff Anthony J, Nickles Kirsten, Place Sara, Edwards-Callaway Lily
Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Department of Animal Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Sep 26;13(19):3029. doi: 10.3390/ani13193029.
The purpose of this study was to: (1) understand heat mitigation strategies currently used and recommended by feedyard operators, veterinarians, and nutritionists, (2) understand their perceptions of heat mitigation strategies related to cattle health, performance, welfare, and carcass quality, (3) quantify the frequency of extreme heat events, and (4) understand industry needs associated with heat stress mitigation strategies. An online survey was shared via 11 industry association listservs. Descriptive statistics were performed on 56 responses (n = 22 operators, 26 veterinarians and eight nutritionists). Thematic analysis was performed on free-response questions. Sixteen (72.7%) operators, 23 (88.5%) veterinarians and eight (100%) nutritionists utilized at least one heat mitigation strategy. "Changing processing and shipping hours" (n = 42, 75%) had the most "strongly agree" responses when asked about strategy effectiveness. The majority of respondents agreed that heat stress negatively impacts cattle health, performance, and welfare (Mean ± SD; ≥7.8 ± 2.6 for all roles). Forty-two (75%) respondents experienced cattle death loss from extreme heat events. Thematic analysis indicated that respondents perceived pen infrastructure and water/feed management as important considerations for better mitigating heat stress impacts. When asked what resources would be helpful, respondents indicated research and data regarding the effectiveness of various strategies.
（1）了解饲养场经营者、兽医和营养学家目前使用和推荐的热缓解策略；（2）了解他们对与牛的健康、性能、福利和胴体品质相关的热缓解策略的看法；（3）量化极端高温事件的发生频率；（4）了解与热应激缓解策略相关的行业需求。通过11个行业协会的邮件列表分享了一项在线调查。对56份回复（n = 22名经营者、26名兽医和8名营养学家）进行了描述性统计。对自由回答问题进行了主题分析。16名（72.7%）经营者、23名（88.5%）兽医和8名（100%）营养学家至少采用了一种热缓解策略。当被问及策略有效性时，“改变加工和运输时间”（n = 42，75%）获得的“强烈同意”回复最多。大多数受访者同意热应激会对牛的健康、性能和福利产生负面影响（均值±标准差；所有角色的均值均≥7.8±2.6）。42名（75%）受访者经历过因极端高温事件导致的牛死亡损失。主题分析表明，受访者认为畜栏设施以及水/饲料管理是更好地减轻热应激影响的重要考虑因素。当被问及哪些资源会有帮助时，受访者指出了有关各种策略有效性的研究和数据。
