Caring for Animals During the Hottest Months

Summer On the Farm

When most people think about summer on a farm, they picture green pastures, sunshine, and animals grazing in open fields. While those things are certainly part of the season, summer also brings unique challenges for both farmers and the livestock. High temperatures can affect animal comfort, health, and even productivity. These factors make proper management even more important.

Since starting here at Grass Corp, I've learned that taking care of the animals in the summer revolves around three simple but essential priorities: feed, water, and shade. While every species has different needs, these three things help ensure that animals stay healthy and comfortable throughout the hottest months of the year. In this blog I'm going to share with you how Grass Corp. tends to each species' needs.

Chickens

At Grass Corp, chickens play an important role on the farm, but not all chickens have the same purpose. Some are raised to produce eggs, while others are raised for meat. Because of these different purposes, each flock is managed in a way that best supports its needs. The two types of chickens raised on the farm are laying hens and broiler chickens.

The laying hens are responsible for producing eggs. In April, they are moved out onto pasture where they spend the warmer months outdoors. Currently, Grass Corp has two separate flocks of laying hens: one flock from last spring and another that is just beginning to lay.

During the summer, special attention is given to making sure the hens have access to the essentials they need to stay comfortable. The Egg Mobile and roofed shelters provide shade throughout the day, while feeders and watering systems ensure they always have access to feed and fresh water. Every few days, the flocks are moved to a new area of pasture. This rotation gives the birds fresh ground to explore while also helping maintain healthier pasture conditions.

Broiler chickens, on the other hand, are raised specifically for meat production. Grass Corp receives these birds from the hatchery in batches of approximately 600 at a time, and there are usually four to five groups on the farm at any given time.

Because broilers grow quickly, they require even more frequent movement during the summer months. Their covered pens are pulled onto fresh ground every day, giving them access to clean grass, bugs, and a new area to rest. The shelters provide both shade from the summer sun and protection from rain. Fresh feed and water are always available, helping the birds remain healthy as they grow.

Another important part of their care is predator protection. Guardian dogs stay with the flocks and help protect the birds from potential threats while they are out in the fields. Watching how frequently these birds are moved really highlights the amount of work that goes into ensuring pasture-raised poultry remain healthy and comfortable throughout the summer.

Sheep

Like the chickens, the sheep spend the summer out on pasture, but their management looks a little different. In many ways, sheep have one of the most independent lifestyles on the farm. They spend their days grazing freely across the pasture and making use of the space available to them.

While sheep require less day-to-day intervention than some other livestock species, their basic needs are still carefully managed. They have access to fresh pasture as their only source of feed, along with clean water and natural shade throughout the summer months. The sheep graze along wood lines which serve as a great way to protect them from direct sun. The flock is not given hormones or antibiotics and is able to thrive primarily on the pasture available to them.

Just like the broiler chickens, the sheep are protected by guardian dogs that help keep predators away. This allows the flock to graze safely while spending most of its time outdoors.

Cows

As with all of the livestock at Grass Corp, summer cattle management focuses on providing adequate feed, fresh water, and relief from the heat. Grass Corp manages both lactating and non-lactating cattle, and each group requires different care throughout the season.

The non-lactating cows spend the summer on pasture and are moved to a new paddock every few days. Since they are not producing milk, they require less intensive management than the dairy herd. Moving them regularly gives them access to fresh grass while helping maintain healthy pastures. They also have constant access to clean water, which is especially important during the summer heat.

The lactating cows have much greater nutritional needs because they are producing milk. To give them fresh grass each day, they are moved to a new section of pasture twice daily. Portable shade structures are moved with them so they can stay cool while grazing. They also receive hay and additional supplements throughout the summer to help support milk production.

Summer can be challenging for dairy cows because producing milk and staying cool both require energy. When cows use more energy to handle the heat, they have less energy available for making milk. To help meet those demands, the farmers provide additional nutrients through both their feed and water.

The cows' water contains apple cider vinegar, molasses, and dissolved sea salt. The apple cider vinegar helps support digestion and break down the long fibers found in grass and hay. The molasses provides extra energy and minerals, while the sea salt supplies a full spectrum of minerals. The cows also receive dry grass hay to help keep their stomachs full and functioning properly, along with alfalfa for additional protein and energy. Taking these few extra steps help keep the cows healthy, comfortable, and productive throughout the summer months.

Pigs

Just as shade and water are important for chickens, sheep, and cattle, they are especially important for pigs. One thing I recently learned that may surprise you is that pigs are much cleaner animals than many people realize. While they are often associated with mud and being dirty, pigs actually prefer clean living conditions and enjoy having access to fresh water.

The reason pigs are frequently seen in mud is because they cannot sweat. Instead, they rely on water and mud to help regulate their body temperature during hot weather. What may look messy is actually one of the ways pigs keep themselves cool.

At Grass Corp, the pigs are moved out onto pasture in May. Throughout the summer, they are rotated to a new paddock every week. This gives them fresh ground to explore while also helping maintain pasture quality.

To help them stay comfortable during the hottest months, the pigs have access to shaded structures, are fed twice daily, and have automatic watering systems that ensure fresh water is always available. These simple but important management practices help keep the pigs healthy, comfortable, and well cared for throughout the summer season.

Why Summer Management Matters

The more I learn about farming, the more I realize how much planning goes into caring for livestock. Summer management isn't just about putting animals out on grass and hoping for the best. It requires constant attention to nutrition, water availability, pasture conditions, and protection from heat.

Whether it's moving broiler chickens every day, rotating cattle between paddocks, providing portable shade for dairy cows, or ensuring every animal has access to clean water, each management decision serves a purpose.

After spending time learning about the different systems used at Grass Corp, one thing has become clear: successful summer farming starts with meeting animals' basic needs. Feed, water, and shade may sound simple, but they are the foundation of keeping livestock healthy, productive, and comfortable throughout the season.