Summer heat to affect crops, livestock growth

CEBU, Philippines - The effects of the sweltering heat brought about by the onset of the summer season is slowly being felt by the livestock industry, posing threats to pastures and crops that supply the feed source for agricultural animals, this according to the Department of Agriculture region 7.

Livestock and poultry raisers should now be aware of the various adaptation practices to prepare against the negative effects of global warming on their livelihood and business, said Marianito Doydora, DA 7’s agriculturist and officer in charge of Ubay Stock Farm.

The increasing temperature nowadays is a major factor for livestock animals to be prone to heat stress which can greatly affect the growth, reproduction rates and the eating habits and health of animals, warned Doydora during the Kapihan forum held Wednesday.

This will also have a relative effect on the amount of livestock products such as pork, chicken, eggs, beef, goat and carabao sent to the market, he continued.

The supply of water will also be affected as the water demand increases during dry season.

Alternative methods

Doydora said the El Niño that is predicted to occur within the year should be key reason for livestock producers and even farmers to adopt alternative methods.

These techniques, he said, will make their livelihood and livestock production remain stable.

“Grabe ang adverse effect sa climate change, ang El Niño ug La Niña,” he said. “Maong maapektuhan gyod ang pagtubo, pagsanay ug pagdaghan sa kahayopan nato.” (The El Niño and La Niña will bring adverse effects to the growth rate of our livestock.)

To prevent animals from experiencing heat stress, he advised farmers to build cooling structures such as native, cheap sheds which house livestocks, keeping the body temperatures down.

If a hut is not available, animals can stay under the trees or can be provided with other in-shed cooling techniques to ease the heat in their body, he continued.

He further added that the animals shoul be given bath from time to time to help them cool down.

Supplement food

A feed shortage is also expected as grasslands (pastures), being the main source of food for livestocks, are directly affected by the extreme heat.

Pastures are the grasses, legumes, shrubs and other plants which animals eat on the ground.

While legumes and cassava crops are heat-resistant and, in fact, these actually thrive during hot weather, can serve as supplement food for livestocks.

He also urged farmers to feed their animals with leaves of trees and Malunggay leaves when grasses become scarce during the hot season.

These leaves are even good for the animals’ health because of the many nutrients these leaves bring.

Although he said it would not be that easy to feed the animals with these alternative foods especially if they are used to eating commercial feeds. 

Native breed

The Department of Agriculture specifically the Ubay Stock Farm is currently doing Breed Development Program  that aims to produce more native animals such as chicken and pig.

Doydora shared that experience would tell that native livestocks are more resilient during calamities and adaptive to climate abnormalities.

“Kadtong human sa pag-igo sa bagyong Pablo sa Mindanao, nakit-an nga pulos mga native breed ang nagpabiling nagsuroy-suroy sa mga dan,” he recalled. (When typhoon Pablo hit Mindanao, only the native breed were seen roaming the streets after the storm.)

Because of this, they are convinced to do more on conservation and utilization of animal breeds.

USF is the country’s biggest and oldest livestock station located in Ubay, Bohol under the government’s DA.

The farm has also become a livestock technology training center for Visayas and Mindanao. (FREEMAN)