Winter is here along with cooler temperatures. Cattle are generally hardy animals that can tolerate cold temperatures very well, especially when acclimated and properly cared for.
They can endure a lot, but it does change them metabolically, we just can’t see it, explains Chris Cassady, Ph.D., BioZyme director of beef technical sales.
Lower critical temperature (LCT) is influenced by both environmental and animal factors. These factors include a combination of wind chill, humidity, hair coat and body condition score.
Typically, a LCT is around 18°F with a full winter coat, Cassady says.
“So will they survive, yes. But will it potentially cause metabolic changes and stressors, also yes. While they can survive harsh colds, what we can’t see internally is what we need to focus on,” he adds.
Beef cattle can typically endure temperatures as low as -20°F, and even colder, especially when they have good nutrition, are in good health and have adequate shelter or windbreaks.
Providing adequate cattle shelter and nutrition during the coldest months of the year is essential for herd health and well-being. Cattle are fairly cold tolerant, however, the combination of wind chill and moisture can lead to cold stress, which leads to lowered performance and decreased immune response.
Cassady offers six guidelines to producers to consider when preparing cattle for winter:
1. Provide Windbreaks
Windbreaks can be both natural and man-made. Plant rows of trees or shrubs to reduce the wind chill. A hilly area can also serve as a natural wind barrier.
If trees are not an option, construct windbreaks from materials like wood, metal or fabric. These structures should be placed to block prevailing winds.
2. Design Shelter for Comfort
Build open-sided barns or three-sided sheds to provide shelter from wind, snow and rain. The open side should face away from the wind, typically southward. Each cow needs about 40-50 square feet of space. Ensure the shelter area is big enough to comfortably house your herd.
Good airflow is crucial to prevent respiratory diseases and mold growth in the shelter. Ensure proper ventilation to avoid condensation and moisture build-up. Additionally, we suggest installing vents or leaving space at the top of the shelter walls to promote air circulation.
3. Protection from Mud
Provide deep bedding with materials like straw, corn stalks or wood shavings to insulate against cold ground. Regularly replenish bedding to keep it dry and warm.
It is also vital to provide proper drainage around the shelter and windbreak, which prevents mud. Mud can cause hoof problems and stress cattle. Gravel pads or dry-lot pens can help keep the ground dry.
4. Water and Feed Access
Water and feed is even more essential to your cattle during the cold months make sure cattle have access to both, especially when they are confined during storms or extreme cold.
Use heated or insulated water troughs to prevent freezing. Ensure a consistent supply of clean water.
Plan to increase rations and ensure there is a sufficient supply of forage. Ensure feed is easy to access without cattle needing to travel far. Keep feed close to or within the shelter.
5. Be Prepared for Severe Weather
We obviously don’t have to remind cattle producers to check the weather. If you have prepared a winter cattle shelter properly, you should be prepared for heavy snow, freezing rain and extreme cold.
We do recommend having an emergency plan in place for blizzards, such as moving cattle to barns or bringing in extra feed supplies. Finally, keep cattle calm and avoid overcrowding in confined spaces, as stress can lead to health issues.
“In addition to providing a quality, well-ventilated bedded down winter cattle shelter, your herd also needs high-quality nutrition during times of cold stress,” Cassady says.
6. Provide Good Nutrition
During cold weather, cattle require more energy to maintain body temperature. A higher energy diet, particularly one with increased roughage, helps cattle produce heat through digestion. Undernourished cattle are more prone to cold stress due to reduced fat reserves and lower metabolic heat production.
“Basically, once the animal falls below her LCT, she’s going to start putting energy toward thermoregulating herself. Obvious implications that if she’s in survival mode instead of production mode, we lose opportunity revenue,” Cassady says.
He suggests two ways producers can combat this: supplement with energy dense grain products or increase their intake of hay.
However, two problems with this exist, he says. First, they haven’t been adapted to grain, so there will be a potential drop in rumen pH, which is where Amaferm, a prebiotic research-proven to increase digestibility, can help.
Secondly, if the forage quality isn’t high enough, the cows can’t get enough hay consumed to meet this energetic demand because they are full. Amaferm helps break that down, and increase VFA production. By increasing digestibility, your cattle are automatically increasing their body temperature internally, Cassady says.
Providing proper winter cattle shelter and quality nutrition for herd ensures their health, safety and productivity during cold months.
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