Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

Thousands of Cattle Dead Amid Heatwave, Humidity in Kansas

June 17, 2022
Heatwave

This week, the National Weather Services (NWS) predicted extreme heat in parts of the Gulf Coast and the expansion of the Great Lakes into the Midwest, and more than 100 million Americans were advised to stay indoors.

At least 2,000 cattle have died as of Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment told ABC News.

Kansas State is one of the top three beef producers in USA. The State has twice as many cows as people and is one of the top beef exporters as well.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves in the United States have increased steadily over the four decades since the 1960s.

The agency noted that the annual number of heat waves has increased from two in the 1960s to six in 2010. Heatwave seasons snow accumulate more days than in previous decades: where heatwave seasons lasted around 20 days in 1960, reaching an average of 70 days in 2010.

“What is clear is that the livestock (and human, for that matter) heat stress issue will become increasingly challenging for livestock farmers to deal with, as the world warms,” said Philip Thornton, a climate researcher and professor who authored a 2021 report on the impact of increasing heat on livestock.

Severe heatwaves have thrown millions of lives and livelihoods out of gear in India as well. The capital experienced 6 heatwaves since march this year.

Average maximum temperatures for the month were the highest in 122 years. The Centre for Science and Environment, a think-tank, says that early heatwaves this year have affected around 15 states, including the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, usually known for its pleasant temperatures.