The best way to keep livestock comfortable in the winter, according to Dr. Heidi Ward, is to keep them healthy.
That means updating the animals’ vaccines in the fall, Ward, a University of Arkansas Extension veterinarian, told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor.
“Make sure they do that plenty ahead of time so they have a full three weeks for the vaccines to take effect,” she said. “Mainly protect again the respiratory diseases; those tend to take a toll on cattle during the wet, cold months in the late fall and winter.”
Livestock can also be made more comfortable by deworming them in the fall, and putting them on a clean pasture. That keeps their intestinal parasite burden relatively low, so they’re not competing with worms in their gut for needed nutrition throughout the winter months.
Producers should make sure cattle have access to fresh hay or feed if forage supplies are low, and fresh water.
“Ensuring fresh water also means to check their water sources every day to make that they’re not freezing over, breaking them up if they have to, and adding more water,” Ward said. “That may be something they have to do in the morning and the evening, to make sure they get good water every day. And especially towards the end of winter, most producers have to provide hay, usually in round bale or block bale form, just to be sure that you’re meeting their nutritional quota.”
Well before winter arrives, the producer can build some sort of wind block on the pasture, either by planting a protective stand or erecting a structure in common areas where wind comes through. If a particular pasture is subject to flooding, make sure there’s higher ground to which they can be moved.
Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension regional livestock specialist, said any kind of adverse weather will affect cattle performance.
“A little bit of wetness, a little bit of wind, a little bit of mud – those all impact animal nutrient needs and their comfort,” Cole explained. “If you can minimize the amount of bone chilling conditions that the cattle are faced with, you’re going to be better at the end of the winter than somebody who has them out on a flat area where there are no windbreaks. A windbreak might only be a ridge or a hillside where they can get on the southwest side of it; it might be as simple as a cedar break, where there’s a little bit of wind or timber.”
Although it’s helpful if the animals can be kept dry, Cole warned putting them in an enclosed area that is not properly ventilated only places more stress on them. “An animal that has good nutritional intake on a daily basis can probably withstand being out in the cold more so than if you worried about trying to get it under roof,” he said. “We can create a lot of moisture coming off of those cattle if you put them in a barn.”
If there is mud, try to figure out a way to keep the cattle out of it. Cole said there are enough rocks, slopes, hillsides, fields and pastures around to avert too many muddy conditions. When snow comes around, he said, “My favorite is to unroll big round bales of sorry hay; usually most people have some that is only fit for bedding in the first place. The younger the animals, the more they need a place to lie down, and it kind of helps keep them out of the mud.”
Finally, keep them comfortable by keeping them well fed; an animal with its body fat depleted will have a hard time tolerating wind chills. “Good feeding habits, getting plenty of energy and adequate protein into them, is critical to keep that body condition score up,” Cole said. “On cows, we would like to be up above a 5-6 Body Condition Score range, minimum.”
