The acute late December drop in temperatures drove many to retreat to the indoors to remain heat, however for beef cattle out on pasture, bedding in a heat barn shouldn’t be at all times an choice, mentioned the consultants at Kansas State College’s Beef Cattle Institute on a latest Cattle Chat podcast.
A staff of veterinarians and a beef cattle nutritionist provided listeners administration recommendation for when the temperatures drop to properly beneath freezing.
“Whereas water consumption by cattle is much less within the winter than in the summertime, it’s nonetheless necessary that cattle have water entry even in a chilly snap,” mentioned veterinarian Bob Larson.
As well as, veterinarians Brian Lubbers and A.J. Tarpoff pressured the significance of giving cattle safety from the wind wherever potential.
“Shelters not solely maintain cattle dry, however in addition they maintain them out of the wind, and in actually chilly spells that’s necessary,” Lubbers mentioned.
Whereas some cattle have entry to barns or windbreaks, there are occasions when cattle are out on pasture and people will not be choices. In that case, Tarpoff encourages producers to get artistic of their pondering.
“One rancher I do know in western Kansas parks inventory trailers in pastures to provide the cows a windbreak, after which opens a small door on the trailer for the calves to get inside and heat up on bedding,” Tarpoff mentioned.
Nutritionally talking, beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster mentioned the cattle’s upkeep necessities will improve 50-100% when the temperatures plummet and they’re out in frigid, snowy situations.
“At these instances, cattle will must be supplemented with a feedstuff that’s excessive in vitality,” Lancaster mentioned. “Be sure that the starch content material in a cow’s weight-reduction plan is lower than half a p.c of her physique weight so it does not negatively affect the forage digestion.”
In harsh temperatures, Tarpoff mentioned you will need to supply the cattle bedding both within the barn or out on the pastures.
“Giving cattle a protecting barrier in opposition to the frozen floor is admittedly necessary on these excessive climate days,” Tarpoff mentioned.
Supply: Kansas State College Analysis and Extension
