Page 28 - MWC 2-3-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 3, 2022 · P28
Cows, Calv
Cows, Calves, and Cold Weather es, and Cold Weather
Concerns
Concerns By Bob Larson DVM

cattle with combined with a wet hair coat for maintenance at the same
thin fat (as can occur during a winter time that feed digestibility is
cover and storm), the effects can be very decreasing means that if cows
short hair profound. do not have access to plenty of
coats (due Adult cattle with a dry hair digestible feed, they will have
to move- coat, adequate body condition, to “burn” body fat as a calorie
ment from and abundant, adequate-qual- source. Another factor that can
a warmer ity forage can withstand most limit feed intake in winter con-
Preparing for winter conditions can make all the difference for your e n v i r o n - winter situations, especially ditions is if water sources are
cows, calves, and bulls when cold weather arrives. ment to a if they have the ability to find frozen or unavailable. If feed
colder en- protection from wind and have intake cannot keep up with
A high percentage of the vironment; or extremely cold been exposed to moderate- energy demands, and body fat
U.S. beef herd resides in areas temperatures early in the fall/ ly cold conditions for several is mobilized to meet energy
of the country where moder- winter season), cattle with weeks which allows them to demands, then the cows will
ately to extremely cold winter wet hides, or high wind speed acclimate by growing a thick have less fat insulation and
temperatures are common. By accompanying cold tempera- winter hair coat and increas- will be more susceptible to
planning for winter weath- tures. Wind chill is a better ing feed intake. As tempera- cold temperatures – causing
er, ranchers can avoid being predictor of cold stress than tures drop, cattle increase heat a vicious cycle that can lead
caught off-guard by extreme temperature alone because production which means that to cold stress and even more
events and can manage the cold wind draws heat away the number of calories they weight loss.
typical winter conditions so more quickly than still air at need for maintenance increas- Cold weather brings a spe-
that cattle do not have to con- the same temperature. Wet or es. This increase is met by con- cial concern with bulls because
tinually utilize body fat as an mud-caked hair loses its abili- suming more feed and moving of the potential to have frost-
energy source to keep warm ty to insulate the animal and it through the digestive tract bite damage to the scrotum
– leading to excessive loss of a wet winter hair coat only faster, but the cost of this fast- and testicles. It is very import-
body condition. provides as much protection er movement is that feed is ant that bulls have protection
Situations that are most from the cold as a typical sum- not digested as fully. The effect
likely to cause cold stress are: mer hair coat. If cold wind is of needing increased calories continued on page 35

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