Page 31 - MWC 04-22-2021s

Guidelines for Livestock Windbreaks The Midwest Cattleman · April 22, 2021 · P31

By Kiernan Brandt
Ensuring that cattle and tions of up
any other livestock being to 30-de-
pastured in exposed areas grees in
have adequate access to shel- windbreak
ter to escape the wind and angle still
cold is especially important. provide ad-
Livestock grazing open crop equate pro-
residue fields or large pas- tection.
tures can be left exposed A com-
during extreme bouts of cold, mon rule
and producers should try to of thumb is
mitigate these effects. In ad- to allocate
dition to cold, wind chills will 25-square
increase heat loss dramat- feet of pro-
ically by penetrating even tection per
the thickest winter coats, cow, or 1
increasing livestock ener- foot of fence
gy requirements to main- length per
tain body temperature, thus cow. The
driving up feed costs. When protected zone of a wind- using 6” boards to build your installation on native range-
temperatures drop below 30 break will extend out to the windbreak, spacing them 2” lands or other pasture areas.
degrees Fahrenheit, energy leeward side by 8-15 heights apart would provide 25% po- Information on potential
requirements increase ap- of the structure with a re- rosity, and a 3” gap between technical and financial sup-
proximately 13% for every 10 duction of wind speed of ap- would provide 33% porosity, port for such projects can also
degree decrease in windchill, proximately 50%. Previous etc. Creating space at the be obtained from local USDA
and cattle can experience research has identified an bottom of the structure of service centers throughout
cold stress below 18 degrees ideal ratio of length to height 4-12” to allow wind to pass the state.
Fahrenheit. of 10:1, so for example a 10’ through at ground level can In Summary
windbreak should be a min- also reduce drifting around
Design Considerations The natural terrain, wind
There are several consid- imum of 100’ long for maxi- the base of windbreaks. direction, and available
mal protection. Structures
erations for designing wind- should be placed at least 75 Living Shelterbelts windbreaks will vary largely
breaks, and the require- feet upwind of any roads, al- Living shelterbelts are between operations, so it is
ments for sizing will largely leys, or buildings to reduce common in many areas, and important to remain flexible. T h e d i M w e l t t a C t s e m e S n a e t p m b 3 r e , 0 2 0 1 0 1 6
BSE Clinic Time
depend on the number of an- the impact of high winds and the same principles generally The design of a windbreak
imals that will be utilizing drifting snow. apply. The appropriate densi- should be carefully evaluat-
the structure for shelter. It ty of a living windbreak will ed as to how it will impact
By Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension
is important to understand Structure Density depend on the type of shrubs production. While installing
We’ve scheduled four clinics of cows keep coming back in progeny differences (EPDs) and
Has your bull had a breeding
that windbreaks and shelter One often overlooked com- and trees utilized. It is al- windbreaks can represent
soundness exam (BSE)since where you can get your bulls heat. There are no other out-
belts do not eliminate wind, ponent of windbreak design ways recommended to con- a large investment of time breeding programs or whatever
you pulled him from the breed-
completely examined, given ward signs of trich in the bull is on your mind. Ed Trotter with
they simply redirect it, and is the density of the struc- sult with an Extension Spe- and resources, benefits to
parasite control treatment and or cow for that matter.
ing pasture this summer? Fer-
in many cases wind velocity ture. If a structure is solid, cialist or other expert when livestock and the producer Pfizer will be at some of the clin-
tility and breeding ability can vaccinated and be ready to turn
may increase as it is redi- initial windspeed reduc- considering species selection are undeniable and should ics with information on their
fluctuate in bulls from year-to-
out if everything checks out
rected around a break, espe- tion is greater, but drifting to prevent the introduction be considered annually for Here are the dates and loca- DNA evaluation program.
year and season-to-season. If okay. In addition, if you’d like, tions of our fall clinics.
Call the above veterinary of-
cially if the structure is solid is often more severe at the of invasive species and to every grazing situation, fices for your appointment time.
you’ve preg checked your cows they can check your bull for the
in nature such as a repur- edges of the windbreak as maximize effectiveness when not only during severe win- October 11 - Barry County Vet Of course, there’s a limit to the
and found several open, it just sexually transmitted disease,
posed grain bin or plywood a result of increased down- considering installing or en- ter-conditions. number of bulls the clinics can
might be cause to check him trichomoniasis. Trich is on the Services, Cassville
fence. Whether windbreaks wind speed. Once the sides of hancing living shelter belts, SDSU Contact: Dr. Voyd Brown, 847- accept so you may need to pick a
rise in this part of the world. It’s
out.
are permanent or temporary, a solid windbreak are drift- especially when considering suspected when a large number 2677 different time and/or a different
they must be sturdy enough ed, the wind simply goes up veterinarian. It’s just important
to withstand high winds and and over the top, with wind October 12 - Kent Veterinary to have your bulls checked out.
the accompanying force those and precipitation descending Buffalo Livestock Market Clinic, Billings A survey of cow-calf farms in
winds exert. Posts for perma- on the now unprotected area Contact Dr. Harvey Kent, 744- 24 states in 2008 showed that
nent structures should be at and reducing its effective- Special 2222 about 25% do a semen evalua-
least 8” thick and extend 3-5’ ness. Livestock windbreaks Cattle Sale Special Sheep tion on their bulls before turn-
below the frost line. For mo- should have a porosity of 25- Vaccinated Every Stock Cow & October 13 - Dake Veterinary out. I doubt if we’re that high
Watch our
bile structures, wide bases at 33%, meaning 67-75% of the Cattle Saturday sale live on the & Bull Sale Goat Sale Clinic, Miller in southwest Missouri. The
least 1.5 times the height and structure should be solid, Sale 12:00 Noon www.CattleUSA.com Contact: Dr. Chuck Dake, 452- October BSE clinics in the past
Internet at
constructed with heavy ma- with the remainder being 2nd Sat. of 3rd Tuesday 4th Tuesday 3301 few years have found more prob-
terials are necessary to pre- open spaces that allow a Each Month Selling all classes lems with bulls than the clinics
of cattle
vent tipping from high winds small amount of wind to pass October 14 - Countryside Ani- in March. Hot weather could
or cattle rubbing. Orienta- through at a reduced veloci- Lyle Caselman - Owner-Manager: 417-345-7876 • Mobile: 417-533-2944 mal Clinic, Aurora be more of a problem than cold
tion of windbreaks should be ty. This increases the amount Leon Caselman - Owner: 417-345-4514 • Mobile: 417-588-6185 Contact: Dr. Mike Bloss, 678- when it comes to bull fertility. It
Howard Miller - Owner -Manager: 417-345-8612
positioned perpendicular to of wind coming up and over 4011 could even be from fescue toxins
the wind direction, although the top of the structure and Call Lyle or Leon to find out what we can do for you: consumed or a combination of
V-shaped windbreaks are increases the effective cover- Danny Cross 417-576-5461 • John Sanwald 417-588-9113 • Bobby Cole 573-674-3131 Besides the BSE, I will be at factors.
common in areas with mul- age area provided downwind. Barn 417-345-8122 the clinics to answer questions,
tiple wind directions. Devia- This means that if you’re discuss bull sales, expected
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