Helping Livestock Winter Well
As I bundle up to go feed or ride in 20 degree weather, basically balmy for us considering it’s nearly Christmas, I still feel it in my bones. Cold weather not only taxes us but our livestock as well when Open Range returns how we can help our animals cope. Whether you raise horses or cattle one things’ for certain animals need more energy to withstand cold temperatures. There are many issues to factor to determine when a cow or horse is experiencing cold stress, one being their coat condition. In the fall a cow just starting to grow it’s winter coat can become cold stressed at 45 degrees and that’s not taking into consideration the wind chill factor. Yet with natures winter blanket, thick fur, cattle can be comfortable when temperatures dip to the teens . The general rule according to Warren Rusche with the University Extension at South Dakota State is that for every degree the temperature is blow the critical stress temperature the cows energy needs increase one percent. If its 15 degerees out with a 5 mph wind the a cow with a heavy winter coat has a 10 percent high higher requlirment than under moderate conditions. It’s also important to remember that wet or muddy coats can double energy needs. Any available protection natural or man made will do wonders in helping livestock weather the cold.
