The already struggling meat industry suffered another blow after extreme temperatures in Kansas killed at least 2,000 cattle across the state.
As reported by The Daily Caller, the estimated total of dead cattle comes from facilities that reached out to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (DHE) for help in disposing of the carcasses. The Kansas Livestock Association said that the cause of death was heat stress as a result of extremely high temperatures and humidity.
In western Kansas, temperatures reached as high as 108 degrees Fahrenheit, and are projected to reach as high as 110 degrees over the weekend, according to World Weather Inc.
The loss of so many domestic cattle at once adds to an ongoing crisis of food shortages stemming partially from the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ever since Russia first invaded the European country in February, the price of food, and particularly grain, skyrocketed all across the world due to Ukraine’s status as a leading exporter. Farmers have been forced to reduce their number of cattle to accommodate the lower amounts of grain readily available to feed their animals.
Farmers have noted that, with the food shortages and rising temperatures, extra care must be taken to make sure the animals remain healthy.
“You can’t say, ‘Oh I checked them three days ago,'” said Brenda Masek, president of Nebraska Cattlemen. “When it gets hot, you’ve got to be out every day and making sure that their water is maintained.”