The agricultural industry is grappling with escalating challenges caused by increasing global temperatures and heat stress induced by climate change. However, an unexpected solution has emerged: cow sweating.
This discovery offers hope for mitigating these challenges, potentially relieving farmers striving for sustainable food production in a warming world.
PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 26: Cows graze in a field at a dairy farm on April 26, 2024 in Petaluma, California. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is ordering dairy producers to test cows that produce milk for infections from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) before the animals are transported to a different state following the discovery of the virus in samples of pasteurized milk taken by the Food and Drug Administration. (Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Genetic Selection for Heat-Tolerant Cattle Offers Hope
Cows that can dissipate 85% of their body heat offer promise for enhancing food security amid a warming climate. As temperatures rise due to climate change, livestock like cattle face increased difficulties in growth and reproduction.
Finding sustainable solutions for food production has become a global priority. The unexpected solution lies in these cows’ ability to sweat efficiently, significantly reducing heat stress.
A new study reveals that it is possible to identify genes within cattle breeds that could produce the sweatiest, heat-tolerant offspring. This breakthrough could provide much-needed relief to the agricultural sector, which is grappling with rising temperatures and their detrimental impact on livestock health and productivity.
Like humans, cows also sweat, and recent scientific findings underscore its crucial role in their survival. As climate change intensifies, raising cattle becomes increasingly challenging due to the impact of heat on their growth and reproduction. Therefore, there is a pressing need to breed cattle that can better withstand hotter and more prolonged summers.
According to Raluca Mateescu, a University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) professor, cows rely on sweating to dissipate approximately 85% of their body heat. She also pointed out that cows typically stop eating when they become overheated, significantly impacting their health.
Interesting Engineering reported that this diminished food intake could hinder cow growth and threaten the long-term food supply from the herd, especially in subtropical regions where heat stress severely disrupts beef production.
This situation frequently results in notable financial losses due to reduced cow performance. Mateescu highlighted heat stress as a primary threat to food security, emphasizing its detrimental impact on cattle growth, productivity, and reproductive capabilities.
The study published in the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology suggests a breakthrough: identifying specific genes in cattle breeds that could produce offspring better suited to sweating and heat tolerance.
The study found moderate genetic variation in cattle sweat ability, suggesting the potential for selecting sweatier cattle based on genetic markers. It highlighted that both Brahman and Angus breeds contribute positively to the sweat capacity of Brangus cattle.
The research underscores the need to mitigate heat stress’ impact on cattle, which significantly affects their health and reproduction. Thus, focusing on genetic selection is crucial to improving cattle resilience to heat stress.
Scientists aim to breed cattle that remain productive and maintain reproductive health in hotter climates, using innovative solutions to ensure a sustainable food supply for future generations.
