The effect of shade on steer performance after terminal sort

Clicks: 1
ID: 319154
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal

Ranked #63 of 66 articles by views in Translational animal science

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract Heat stress negatively impacts performance and welfare and occurs when total environmental and metabolic thermal load exceeds an animal’s ability to dissipate heat. Access to shade has been associated with reductions in body temperature and respiratory rate in cattle, but previous findings on cattle performance has been inconsistent. This pen-level randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of shade (1.3 m2/head, 100% solar block; n = 12 pens) versus no shade (n = 12 pens) on steer performance following terminal sort at a commercial feedyard in the Pacific Northwest, where animals were housed on roller-compacted concrete floors. Data collected included water consumption, feed delivery, disease events, open mouth breathing (OMB) behavior, and carcass traits. Shade reduced water consumption by 15% (P < 0.05), and pens without shade showed a 6% decrease in feed delivery when the previous day’s temperature-humidity index (THI) was ≥ 80 (P < 0.05). Additionally, shade reduced OMB behavior (P = 0.09), the number of culled steers (P < 0.05), and the incidence of dark cutters (P < 0.05). A greater proportion of steers in shaded pens graded choice and prime (93%), compared to those in unshaded pens (91%) (P < 0.05). Inclusion of shade improved animal health, welfare, carcass quality, and environmental stewardship during the summer months in a commercial feedyard setting. Shade should be considered a valuable management tool for mitigating heat stress in finishing cattle.
Reference Key
openalex_W7166563539 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors M. Mancke, Brad J. White, Eduarda M. Bortoluzzi, Brian V. Lubbers, Robert L. Larson
Journal Translational animal science
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/tas/txag088
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag088
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.