Dog Days of Summer
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Our dog Maggie.
We are coming into the last days of July, which is when the days really start heating up here in Texas. Now through early September are generally the hottest days of the summer. The ancient Greeks coined the term based on the belief that Sirius, a.k.a. the Dog Star, was responsible for the extreme heat.
Regardless of who is responsible for the heat, everyone needs to be cautious at this time of the year. At Cross Creek Cattle Company, we are concerned for ourselves and our animals. Our cattle herd, horses, and pets are all susceptible to the heat. The soaring heat index is not selective between human or beast.
Our biggest priority is our family. We drink large quantities of water and drinks with electrolytes. We wear hats to keep the sun from baking our heads and necks. My husband wears a chill tie around his neck. We try to do our hardest work in the morning and evening. During the afternoon, we try to do work indoors or in the barn. We also watch ourselves for signs of heat exhaustion like heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, and muscle cramps.
Learning to monitor ourselves is the first step in preventing either heat exhaustion or the potentially fatal heat stroke. If you stop sweating when you should be, then you are in danger of heat stroke and should immediately seek medical attention. None of us are doctors nor are we trained in the medical field, but we do our own research. We encourage you to research other ways to prevent either heat induced illness.
Last year we were not as vigilant in watching for signs of heat exhaustion. Unfortunately, my husband, the ranch manager, fell ill. He suffered from vertigo, which was heat induced. It took weeks before he was able to get back to his full work load. He was miserable. We have learned from our mistakes and we hope that you can learn from it too.
As far as our animals are concerned, they have similar needs. They need to rest during the heat of the day. They need plenty of fresh water. They need to be in a pasture with plenty of shade, either artificial or natural. So if your pen or pasture does not have shade trees, then you need to consider constructing a permanent or temporary source of shade.
Having lived in Southeast Texas our entire lives, we knew our climate well before choosing our breed of cattle. We knew how hot the summers were. We knew the high humidity all too well. We also knew that the heat index most often soars higher than the actual temperature during the summer. It was important to us to raise a breed that was well suited to our climate, which is why we choose to raise Beefmasters.
Hairy Cows from Scotland. Photo from Wikipedia.
It is not the only breed that is suitable to Texas’ summers, but it was our pick. Before buying cattle, consider your year-round climate. Can you imagine the Highland cattle of Scotland trying to make it here? Their survival would be questionable. Beefmasters not only survive, but they thrive here at Cross Creek Cattle Company even during the dog days of summer.
Take the necessary precautions for your family, herd, and pets for the next month or so. Be aware of the weather conditions and provide for the needs of everyone based on the heat. Most importantly, be safe. The coolness of autumn will be here soon enough.
