Winterizing the Cow Herd
Cold weather has major implications for our anim als, especially through increased energy demands to keep animals warm. Lets take a closer look at this today and how we can help “winterize” our herd.
Cold weather places additional energy demands on cattle, especially when wind chill and wet conditions come into play. To manage this effectively, start by evaluating your herd’s body condition.
Ideally, cows should have a body condition score (BCS) between 5 and 5.5 before temperatures drop significantly. A cow in good condition with a dry winter coat can withstand wind chills as low as 19 degrees Fahrenheit without additional energy needs. This is called a lower critical temperature, the threshold at which point animals need to start using energy to maintain body heat.
Things like body condition, moisture, coat condition, and wind chill all impact the lower critical temperature. So, for our BCS 5 cow, the critical temperature rises dramatically to 53 degrees once the coat gets wet.
Thin cows — those with a BCS of 4 — are more vulnerable. Looking at lower critical temperatures, remember that our dry BCS 5 cow starts using extra energy at 19 degrees Fahrenheit, but when we drop her to a BCS of 4, she starts needing extra energy at 27 degrees.
If you have thinner cows, consider grouping them with first-calf heifers, as both require higher energy intake during winter. Providing windbreaks or shelter can also help reduce cold stress by keeping animals dry and out of wind chill temperatures, dropping energy needs as well.
Now, let’s talk feeding. During extended cold spells, increasing your herd’s ration or supplement with high-energy feeds is important to maintain animal condition. High quality alfalfa hay usually has a TDN of 58-60% and should meet requirements for dry, good condition animals at windchill temperatures down to -15°F. Beyond that, other high energy supplements paired with free choice hay become a better solution.
Distillers grains are a great option, offering both energy and protein to support forage digestion. Corn can be an options to consider but needs caution; feeding more than two to three pounds per head daily can harm forage digestion.
Adjusting rations during extreme cold can mean the difference between maintaining body condition and costly weight loss. For instance, if the wind chill hits 10°F, a cow in good condition may require up to 10% more energy.
For a 1,200-pound cow, this translates to an additional 1.2 pounds of total digestible nutrients, or TDN, per day. Planning these adjustments ensures your herd stays resilient through harsh conditions.
Taking steps now to improve body condition and prepare feeding strategies will save you stress — and dollars — when temperatures plummet.
