Name two indicators of heat or heat stress in cattle or poultry.

• A. Panting and reduced feed intake
• B. Increased appetite and decreased respiration
• C. Blue coloration and aggression
• D. Increased water intake and activity

Answer: (A)

When cattle or poultry are overheating, their body tries to shed heat, so you’ll see more rapid, shallow breathing or panting to increase evaporative cooling. At the same time, animals often cut back on food to reduce the heat produced by digestion and metabolism. Taken together, panting and reduced feed intake are reliable and practical signs that heat stress is occurring, since they reflect the animal’s immediate cooling effort and a behavioral response to limit internal heat.

The other patterns don’t fit as well: increased appetite and decreased respiration would actually raise internal heat; blue coloration and aggression aren’t typical indicators of heat stress; and while water intake can rise, activity usually decreases rather than increases when animals are heat-stressed.