MONROE - With temperatures in the 90s and the heat index topping 104 degrees on Thursday afternoon, animal handlers at the Green County Fair were stressed to keep their birds, rabbits, pigs and cows cool.
They will have to continue their efforts today because the excessive heat warning is in effect through this evening.
County fair workers have set up a dozen fans in each barn as hogs sprawl themselves out, panting in their stalls on piles of hay, and ducks dunk their beaks into bucketfuls of water. Bunny owners set up water bottles that came out of a freezer for their animals to keep cool, but the humid air quickly turns the liquid lukewarm. Cows in the beef and dairy barns are sprayed down with water to cool down as they stand under barn fans.
Jeremy Schaefer has been coming to the fair for seven years. His children show a variety of animals. This year the family brought a dozen dairy cattle, six pigs and five lambs. Schaefer said the care becomes more time-consuming when the temperatures climb as they have this year.
"We water them every half hour," Schaefer said. "Usually it's an hour. Cool water helps. It hasn't been too bad. The fair has been very helpful with everything. We try to keep as many fans going as possible."
But even that can come with some challenges as breakers have been going out with the stress of the added electricity needed to keep the animals cool, while the animals themselves are stressed by the new atmosphere in addition to the high heat.
Ray Pawlisch of the Brodhead Veterinary Medical Center is one of the four veterinarians and one veterinary medicine student on staff for the fair. He said everything has been going relatively smoothly and that if any animals were found to be in danger because of the heat they would be sent home.
"A number of people are working pretty hard to make sure they stay healthy," Pawlisch said. "The fans help. Basically the concerns for the animals are the same we have for people."
Though there are some setbacks with certain animals. Pawlisch added that rabbits are a cause for concern because of their fur, while poultry also pose problems because of their inability to sweat, so the fans are vital for their well-being.
The temperature today is forecast to feel warmer than 100 degrees.
They will have to continue their efforts today because the excessive heat warning is in effect through this evening.
County fair workers have set up a dozen fans in each barn as hogs sprawl themselves out, panting in their stalls on piles of hay, and ducks dunk their beaks into bucketfuls of water. Bunny owners set up water bottles that came out of a freezer for their animals to keep cool, but the humid air quickly turns the liquid lukewarm. Cows in the beef and dairy barns are sprayed down with water to cool down as they stand under barn fans.
Jeremy Schaefer has been coming to the fair for seven years. His children show a variety of animals. This year the family brought a dozen dairy cattle, six pigs and five lambs. Schaefer said the care becomes more time-consuming when the temperatures climb as they have this year.
"We water them every half hour," Schaefer said. "Usually it's an hour. Cool water helps. It hasn't been too bad. The fair has been very helpful with everything. We try to keep as many fans going as possible."
But even that can come with some challenges as breakers have been going out with the stress of the added electricity needed to keep the animals cool, while the animals themselves are stressed by the new atmosphere in addition to the high heat.
Ray Pawlisch of the Brodhead Veterinary Medical Center is one of the four veterinarians and one veterinary medicine student on staff for the fair. He said everything has been going relatively smoothly and that if any animals were found to be in danger because of the heat they would be sent home.
"A number of people are working pretty hard to make sure they stay healthy," Pawlisch said. "The fans help. Basically the concerns for the animals are the same we have for people."
Though there are some setbacks with certain animals. Pawlisch added that rabbits are a cause for concern because of their fur, while poultry also pose problems because of their inability to sweat, so the fans are vital for their well-being.
The temperature today is forecast to feel warmer than 100 degrees.