Landholders are being urged to be mindful of the impacts of heat on their livestock as temperatures are forecast to exceed 40 degrees later this week at Dubbo.
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Central West Local Land Services district veterinarians said there were a number of management practices that should be followed.
These included handling stock in the coolest parts of the day, such as early morning or in the evening, and ensuring stock have access to shade and shelter, particularly in feedlot situations.
District veterinarian Jillian Kelly said landholders also needed to be aware that stock would drink up to two times the normal amount of water in hot weather.
“If water in dams and rivers is low, stock will wade through, which fouls the water and increases the chances of stock bogging,” she said..
“If the water is dirty, stock may reject it so landholders are advised to consider alternatives such as fencing off watering points and pumping water through troughs.”
She said extreme heat could also result in the termination of embryos in sheep during early gestation.
For more information visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au.