Posted June 3, 2025
By A.J. Knowles, RAAA Director of Breed Improvement
As summer moves in, heat stress in livestock becomes an issue for producers in the Southern states. Shade seeking, higher rates of respiration and time spent standing in the pond (not grazing) are all drains on productivity for animals this time of year. Additionally, toxic fescue is a concern in the Southeast, causing constriction of blood vessels, retained winter hair coat and exacerbating heat stress. All of these factors underline the need to select animals that are adapted to such conditions. One promising trait in this regard is hair shedding, which may seem simple but effectively identifies well-adapted animals.
For several reasons, animals that shed their hair earlier than their contemporaries can be considered more adapted. Most notably, a hair coat retains heat, so animals that shed earlier tend to spend more time in the sun grazing, leading to higher productivity. Moreover, those that shed earlier than their contemporaries are less affected by fescue toxicosis, indicating that they can consume more infected forages without adverse effects on productivity.
As the population of Red Angus cattle in the Southeast increases, there is a growing need for genetic selection tools focused on this trait. The Red Angus Stakeholders Foundation recognized this necessity earlier this year and has initiated a three-year partnership with Dr. Jared Decker and PhD student Dotun Olaoye to fund essential research on this trait and others related to heat stress in Red Angus cattle. If you would like to support this research and other projects backed by the Red Angus Stakeholders Foundation, please contact Peggy Bieber, RASF President at [email protected] or Halla Ramsey, Executive Director of Operations at [email protected]
