Now that winter has arrived, it’s important to ensure your livestock is safe and snug. Cattle exposed to severe cold may die. Due to this, they may experience health problems and have trouble producing enough milk. Since it becomes more challenging for them to go about their normal routine when the temperature drops, animals may experience physical and mental stress. With the right measures, your animals can survive the winter in comfort and health. Here are some items to remember regarding cattle care during the colder months:
Always keep water on hand.
Cattle often have trouble finding sufficient water throughout the winter. Water supplies can be cut off by snow, ice, or muck. 1–2 liters of water per 100 pounds per day is the recommendation from veterinarians for cattle from a pet animal hospital. Thus, water is a precious commodity in any season. Cattle cannot gain normal weight by eating snow or licking ice, contrary to popular belief among new livestock managers. It would take a long time and divert a lot of energy that could be spent on eating and growing.
Dehydrated calves are more likely to suffer from colic and impaction. Therefore it’s important to monitor their water intake and keep them healthy. Putting tank heaters in their water supplies is the simplest solution. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent any shocks or fires. If you can’t use a heater, have multiple sources of unfrozen water available at different times throughout the day.
Ensure that the cattle are well-fed.
Can cows get the chill? Sure, if they aren’t getting enough to eat. Therefore, it is essential to maximize food distribution during cold weather. Without sufficient fuel, their bodies cannot produce enough heat. As a result, they experience a drop in body temperature and ultimately perish.
Keeping your cattle healthy and content through the cold season is possible in several ways. Changing to a more nutrient-dense diet is the quickest and easiest solution, but it is one of the most costly. These premium feeds have been formulated to ensure the highest levels of fat and protein and why dont check here the benefits of animal dentistry to ensure your cattles eat properly.
Provide adequate shelter.
In most cases, life on the farm is fantastic. Even though there is plenty of food and room, the priority during a winter storm is to get to safety as fast as possible. It’s possible that cattle would become anxious and stressed if they didn’t have it.
Protecting grazing cattle from the cold is essential, and doing so can reduce feed costs due to the increased energy needs of chilled livestock. As you may suspect, there are many different approaches to addressing the issue of housing. Cattle can be protected from bad weather by erecting sheds with three sides in various locations throughout your pastures. Hills, gullies, dense woods, and shelterbelts can also function as windbreaks.
Stay away from the mud.
Animals are impacted in two ways by the winter muck. To begin, muck provides a perfect environment for fungi and bacteria that cause foot rot and thrush. And second, calves may have trouble keeping warm if they are completely covered in dirt, even if it’s just on their legs.
Spread gravel or wood chips over muddy areas to prevent them from becoming a problem during the winter. The risk of a pasture turning into muck due to overgrazing can be mitigated through rotational grazing. Muddy regions can dry out with the help of your electric fencing.
Help pregnant cattle.
Pregnant heifers need regular monitoring all through the cold winter months. Get in touch with your vet for more info and discuss whether or not they need any special vaccinations or preventative care this winter to ensure their continued good health.
It’s always a good idea to keep pregnant cows in separate paddocks so you can keep a careful eye on them. Then you may give them the necessities like food, drink, and a safe place to live. Additionally, the impending arrival of the baby brings them closer together. Therefore, you can be present and ready to help throughout the birth.
In Conclusion
Besides those above, you can ease your animals’ discomfort by giving them more room to rest, increasing the amount of straw and hay they have to lie on to generate body heat, and giving milking cows udder lotions and ointments to soothe their udders. Even though the winter months might be challenging for your cattle, providing for their needs according to these rules guarantees they are healthy and content.
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