11/04/2017
Getting Livestock Ready For Winter
Most cattle, horses, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas spend most of their time outside. But even livestock that exclusively live outside need some special treatment when the winter winds start to blow. Winter can be a real struggle for two-or four-legged animals. Those of us with two legs can generally put on a warmer coat or go inside to warm up with a cup of something hot, but what can livestock managers do to keep animals healthy and comfortable in winter?
Livestock’s maintenance nutritional requirements can increase significantly during cold weather. Requirements increase dramatically if animals become wet and/or there is appreciable wind. Lowest critical environmental temperatures (LCT) for livestock vary according to species and researchers, but 20° or 32°F are often used as the lowest temperature dry livestock can tolerate without additional energy demands to support normal body temperature.
Energy requirements for an animal with a wet coat increase by two percent for every degree drop in the wind chill temperature.
Energy can be provided through grain or additional roughage (hay). Roughage is generally preferable due to its feeding safety.Animals will burn more calories in cold weather to stay warm. Be sure that they have plenty of hay to eat ,most cattle, horses, and small ruminants can have free access to hay all day long.
WATER
The necessity of a clean and reliable year-round source of water cannot be overemphasized. Novice managers often mistakenly believe that animals can meet water requirements
by eating snow or licking ice. With daily water requirements varying from three gallons (sheep) to 14 gallons (cattle), one can see that livestock would need to
spend every waking hour eating snow to meet their requirements.
Ice and snow consumption also lowers body temperature and increases maintenance energy needs, so it should be discouraged.
The weather can also have some pretty dramatic changes this time of year. Temperature swings are not uncommon in the late fall and early spring.
Animals may have a tough time coping with these changes. Horses are especially susceptible to developing an Impaction colic when the weather changes and during cold weather. Be sure your animals always have plenty of access to water all winter long to help avoid an impaction colic.
SHELTER
Shelter is another obvious winter livestock management concern. Animals do not necessarily need or want to live in an enclosed barn every day in the winter and barns
for shelter are not practical for large herds of animals such as beef cattle. As discussed above, livestock can tolerate cold weather if fed properly for it.
However, protection from wind and rain will decrease energy requirements and feed costs and increase animal comfort. Three sided sheds, hills, thickets of trees and solid
or semisolid fences can all serve as adequate breaks from the prevailing winds. There must be sufficient space for all animals to benefit or overcrowding and even
trampling can occur. If animals do not have enough space and variety of landscape to select a spot protected from the elements, a shelter should be provided.
Shelter requirements vary between species—sheep with thick fleeces will graze and spend a great deal of time outside during poor weather, but most goats prefer to stay dry than eat.
HEALTH CONCERNS
Your animals may have special health concerns in the winter, especially if they are pregnant. Talk with your veterinarian about the vaccinations, nutritional supplementation and deworming your animals may need. Also, many animals
become infested with species specific lice/mites in the winter and your veterinarian can advise you how to treat these pests.
Just because it is winter is no reason to overlook animals’ need for exercise to promote muscular and skeletal health. Encourage exercise by varying the location of feeding and watering sites if possible. Exercise will help prevent obesity and overgrown hooves. Hoof care can easily be neglected in the winter, but poor hoof care can lead to several serious health problems. Trim hooves regularly, provide good nutrition, remove manure and minimize mud for optimal hoof health.
Winter Check List
Having abundant and accessible feed will help animals maintain body temperature and survive cold
temperatures.
Make sure stored winter feed is of good nutrient quality for the type of livestock you are feeding.
Rations of hay/forage/feed must be increased in order for livestock to maintain body temperature. Some cold and wet weather fronts may result in a 100 percent
increase in energy requirements to help animals maintain normal body temperature and function
The nutritional needs of gestating livestock increase during cold temperatures. Failing to meet these needs may result in stunted animals, poor milk
production and weak or dead fetuses
Animals’ water consumption increases because of elevated metabolic rates necessary to maintain
warmth. Make sure you have a way to maintain water for your livestock in case of extreme cold and ice.
Shelter animals from the wind. Trees, land windbreaks, other natural weather barriers and constructed
shelters will assist in blocking winds. These protected areas should provide all animals enough space to lie down safely without being trampled or smothered
The time livestock spend in muddy pens and areas should be limited to avoid the development of foot
problems and injuries incurred while moving across slippery ground.
Extremities that become wet or are normally damp are particularly subject to frostbite and freezing
during sub-zero weather. Livestock may lose or have damaged ears and/or tails. Male livestock may
suffer cold damage to reproductive organs, which can impair fertility or the animal’s ability to breed.
Small animals such as rabbits and poultry as well as very young and old livestock may need supplemental heat and/or protection. Monitor their status often.
Stay alert: young/smaller animals are more at risk to cold temperatures and are at greater risk of becoming buried by snow. Care for young animals first, since they are more vulnerable than larger animals.
Make sure animals are in good body condition and vaccinated. Livestock that are larger and in good
body condition can handle winter weather and extreme conditions better than smaller or weaker animals.
For further information on getting ready for winter, please visit us on our Facebook groups.
Goat Vet Corner https://www.facebook.com/groups/goatvetcorner/
Horse Vet Corner https://www.facebook.com/groups/277077519400687/
Chicken Vet Corner's Chicken Talk https://www.facebook.com/groups/552851661524633/
