At least 2,000 cattle in Kansas died due to heatwave

Thousands of cattle died during a recent heat wave in Kansas, according to state officials.

At least 2,000 cattle died due to the intense heat and humidity that recently descended on Southwest Kansas.

"The combination of high temperatures, humidity, and not a lot of wind made it difficult for the cows to stay cool," Matthew Lara, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told PEOPLE.

"So when cattle accumulate heat load and have heat stress, it's temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation that all play a key role," AJ Tarpoff, a beef extension veterinarian for Kansas State University, told TheHutchinsonNews, "Thankfully, it's a rare event."

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