Winter Nutrition For Your Cattle Herd

Performix Nutrition Systems Animal Nutritionist Boone Carter says it is important to remember the affect of winter weather on cattle’s nutrient levels. A normal thermo neutral zone — that is what cattle don’t have to expand any energy to maintain their body temperature ranges between 20 degrees Fahrenheit up to 78 degrees Fahrenheit - however when we have colder temperatures Carter says
Carter: “In general a cow’s nutrient requirements will increase 1 percent for every degree below 20 degrees Fahrenheit as the temperature declines. So if the temperature is 15 degrees than the cow’s nutrient needs increase by 5 percent.”
There are several factors to taken into consideration. Carter continues
Carter: “Temperature at that cattle are comfortable and not expending extra energy really depends on wind speed, whether their skin is wet, whether there is mud on the skin, and the humidity that the cattle live in. So as winter upon us, and we hit strings of cold weather — period of two weeks below zero or down in the teens — you really need to think about how that will affect a cow’s need for nutrient and for protein.”
So that translate to feeding a good quality alfalfa hay — for every six degree below 20 colder — each cow will need an additional pound of hay. Also need to take into account if it is wet or if there is wind as well.