Cooling the Herd: Helpful Ways to Keep Livestock Comfortable in Hot and Dry Weather

Summer temperatures across the continent have edged consistently higher over the past decade. A periodic heatwave has become a recurring challenge for anyone keeping cattle, goats, poultry or any livestock in a homestead setting. When animals struggle to dissipate excess body heat, productivity and welfare suffer. Milk yields decline, egg-laying stalls and fish gasp for oxygen in hot, stagnant water.

Permaculture systems thrive on harmony between plants, animals and landscape design. During heatwaves, that balance can be disrupted unless we build cooling into our overall site plan. Shade, water management and dietary adjustments must all work together, mirroring natural ecosystems where trees, streams and understory plants combine to regulate microclimates.