COLUMN: Cattle need extra feed during cold conditions | News

Last 12 months, I discussed to my husband that I needed the climate was extra attribute of the season. “Be careful what you wish for,” he mentioned.

As I write this shortly earlier than Christmas, it appears to be like like Old Saint Nick will probably be sending climate from the North Pole so he’ll really feel proper at dwelling whereas he makes his Christmas deliveries. As we transfer by this primary cold snap and put together for potential cold in January and February, let’s evaluation further dietary necessities for cattle in winter climate.

There are many issues that impression the flexibility of cattle to tolerate cold and inclement climate, however haircoat and quantity of moisture current (rain, sleet, ice, snow) play the most important function. In addition, cattle in a physique situation beneath 5 have much less cold tolerance.

All cattle will need extra feed to keep up physique situation and handle this environmental stress, however these wants could fluctuate from one group to the subsequent.

So how a lot extra vitamin are we speaking about? The Mesonet Cattle Comfort Advisor is a wonderful device for getting an concept of cold conditions and the impression they’ve on cattle efficiency. According to the Mesonet Cattle Comfort Advisor, a cows power requirement will increase 1% for every diploma the index is beneath 32 levels. This power need would double to 2% for every diploma beneath 32 levels if the animal is moist to the pores and skin. A great power worth to seek advice from is whole digestible vitamins, or TDN.

Let’s take a look at the forecast for a practical instance.

If our temperatures high out at 20 levels and there’s no moisture, cattle will need an extra 12% power to keep up physique situation (32-20 = 12; 12 x 1% = 12% added power). Added moisture would trigger the requirement to double to 24%. Remember we’re speaking power supplementation, however producers additionally might simply present that further requirement as whole complement for simpler math.

So how a lot would producers need to feed to fulfill this elevated requirement to gestating cows? On a standard day, a producer feeding a low-quality prairie hay (6% protein; 52% TDN) would need to feed 3 kilos of a 20% dice or 1.6 kilos of a 38% complement to fulfill necessities.

A dry cold of 20 levels would enhance that day by day feed quantity to three.33 kilos of a 20% or 1.8 kilos of a 38% complement. Any moisture would double power necessities rising that feed to three.72 kilos of a 20% and a pair of kilos of a 38% complement.

Keep in thoughts that rising feeding allotments might trigger some digestive upset if fed unexpectedly. To forestall this, enhance feeding at a decrease degree earlier than cold climate strikes and for just a few days after the cold snap to recuperate some power loss.

Also, cows which can be fed simply twice or thrice per week could profit from feeding extra usually to distribute increased feeding ranges. A

higher-quality hay can also bridge the power hole in these conditions, however it’s useful to know the hay high quality and the way a lot is being offered.

For extra information on cold preparations for livestock, try our current episode of the OSU Extension Experience Podcast. Our podcast might be discovered on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify and plenty of different podcast platforms.

You can also hear on our weblog at https://spotlight.okstate.edu/experience/.

Zook is Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service northwest space livestock specialist.