If you’ve spent more than five minutes outside in a West Texas summer, you already know — that the sun doesn’t play nice. It’s hot, relentless, and doesn’t let up. Now picture being out there in that blazing heat… wearing a thick fur coat… weighing close to 200 pounds… and only being a few weeks old.
Sounds rough, right? That’s precisely what your calves are dealing with.
Heat stress in young calves isn’t just about being uncomfortable. It can slow down their weight gain, make them more likely to get sick, and in severe cases, it can even be fatal. And unlike mature cattle, calves are still developing — so they don’t have the same ability to regulate their body temperature or deal with stress.
That’s why managing calves during hot weather isn’t just a good idea — it’s essential. It’s a crucial part of raising strong, healthy stock that will grow out well and keep your operation profitable. As a rancher, your role in this process is vital. The good news? You don’t need fancy equipment or high-dollar products to make a big difference. A few thoughtful adjustments to your daily routine can go a long way.
Below, we’ll break down five straightforward, ranch-tested tips that can help your calves not only survive the heat — but actually thrive through it. Whether you’ve been in the cattle business for years or you’re just getting started, these tips are simple, practical, and proven to work. By implementing these tips, you can look forward to healthier, more resilient calves and a more successful operation.
Let’s dive in and get your calves set up for a healthy, stress-free summer.
For a newborn calf, colostrum isn’t just important—it’s critical. This first milk from the mother provides essential antibodies that help calves build their immune systems and fight off disease. Without it, their health and well-being can be compromised for the rest of their lives. A calf that doesn’t receive colostrum has a significantly higher risk of infections and diseases and may even have a shorter lifespan. But what happens when a calf doesn’t get colostrum from its mother? Whether it’s because the dam can’t produce enough or the calf isn’t nursing, you’ll need a backup plan to give that calf the best start possible.
As the days grow 
Having calves weaned early is often something that occurs during periods of low forage quality. Early weaning typically happens during extremely dry periods, such as what typically happens in many Western states. But what exactly does it mean to wean early?
The weaning process, a pivotal period in the cattle business, is upon us once again. As any seasoned rancher will attest, it can be both magical and challenging. Weaning, a shared experience that can be stressful for both the cattle and the rancher, is a crucial step in the journey of cattle rearing.
Summer pneumonia, sometimes referred to as pasture pneumonia, is a disease that is usually observed in calves on pasture late in summer. It can affect calves from one month old to even five months old who have yet to be weaned. The issue with this disease is that little is known about it, and it can pop up from nowhere.
