It's Going To Be A Cold One: How To Keep Your Livestock Safe And Healthy This Winter
Posted on: 17 September 2018
Winter is coming quickly. Your livestock is going to need some extra attention. If you've just recently purchased your farm, you might not be familiar with proper winter care of your animals. Unfortunately, that can put your animals at risk for injuries and health problems this winter. Here are some tips that will help you care for your livestock when the weather turns cold.
Inspect Your Livestock Panels
When it comes to protecting your livestock through the winter, one of the first things you need to do is make sure that they're safely contained in the pasture. If you've got livestock panels around the pasture, you need to conduct weekly inspections of them. The condition of your panels can change dramatically throughout the winter. Unfortunately, if your livestock panels are damaged, your livestock can escape, which can put them at risk for serious injuries. To avoid that, inspect your panels once a week. Repair the damage as soon as possible.
For more information on livestock panels, contact a company like Big Springs Equipment.
Keep the Fresh Water Coming
Many people wrongly assume that livestock can use snow to remain hydrated during the winter. However, that's not actually true. In fact, leaving your livestock without access to fresh water during the winter can have serious health implications for them. First, consumption of snow can lower the body temperatures of your livestock. Second, the average horse or cow can't consume enough snow in one day to prevent dehydration. To prevent dehydration and lowered body temperatures, keep the fresh water coming for your livestock all winter long.
Increase the Daily Feedings
Your livestock is going to need additional nutrients during the long winter. It takes a lot of energy to maintain a healthy weight during the winter, which means your livestock will be burning more calories. If they don't have additional food to accommodate the extra calories being burnt, your livestock could become malnourished during the winter. To make sure that doesn't happen, be sure to increase the daily feedings throughout the winter.
Create a Mud-Free Zone
Horses and cattle are sturdy animals, and they're built to withstand the elements. However, mud is one element that can really do them in, especially if they're standing in it all day. In fact, standing in the mud all day can lead to hoof diseases such as hoof rot. It can also cause your livestock to become chilled, which can leave them susceptible to illnesses. To help your livestock avoid exposure to the mud, be sure to create a few mud-free zones in your pasture. Placing layers of hay, sand, or wood chips will give your livestock access to dry ground. It's also a good idea to create drainage paths around the outer perimeter of the pasture to prevent standing water from making the area a muddy mess.
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