Kingfisher County Extension Director/Ag Educator Bryan Kennedy shared some tips for keeping livestock from overheating in Wednesday’s Times and Free Press.

He had a few more thoughts on keeping livestock and pets hydrated and ag operations going during this period of scorching temperatures and limited rainfall.

The quality of available water for animals is as important as the quantity, Kennedy said.

A rule of thumb on livestock drinking water is if a person wouldn’t drink it and enjoy, neither will cattle.

Summertime temperatures also necessitate more frequent tank cleaning because as temperatures rise, bacteria and algae grow much faster.

“Excessive heat can affect your livestock and your profits in several ways,” Kennedy said.

“Hot animals have poor appetite and growing animals that don’t eat don’t grow.

“Females that are trying to pick up body condition prior to breeding season or calving need to eat to capacity as well.

“Adequate shade, plenty of clean water, and a moratorium on handling in the afternoon and evening can limit health problems and help ensure good reproduction rates in your herd.”

For outdoor pets, Kennedy said shade and fresh water are both necessary.

Lawns and gardens require special care during hot, dry spells.

He cites these tips:

•Water early. Get outside and irrigate your lawn and garden before the temperatures reach their peak.

• Apply mulch. Excessive heat dehydrates your landscape more quickly.

• Hand water as needed.

• Keep grass on your lawn higher than usual.

During heat waves, lawns should be kept at 3-4 inches in height. Leaving grass a little taller helps to retain water and encourages a deeper root growth.

The deeper the roots, the easier it is for grass to access moisture even after the first couple inches of soil surface dries out.

When watering an established lawn, it’s typically recommended to water until the top six to eight inches of soil (where most turf grass roots grow) is wet.

Most lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week – either from rain or watering – to soak the soil that deeply.

That amount of water can either be applied during a single watering or divided into two waterings during the week.

Kennedy said overwatering lawns should be avoided, also.