Winter Preparation

Something that I keep hearing about is the need to prepare for winter. Many farms in my area are talking about three main topics. The first is to make sure they have enough food for the amount of animals on the farm. The second is the idea of safe, warm shelters for their animals. Last is the idea of downsizing in order to not spend extra money on feed, bedding, and medical bills that winter will bring.

Hay can be expensive. I know from having to buy it every couple of months for my horse. Now image you have 200 cows, calves, heifers, steers, and maybe a bull or two that all need hay every day, two or three times a day. The amount of hay you would need adds up fast! Now let’s say that one cow eats about a bale a day and that bale is priced at $4 that adds up to about $1,460 for a full year’s worth of hay. We could go on and on about how much everything costs, but at the end of the day it’s clear, cattle are expensive. Yet, that’s not all they need. They also need minerals, sweet feed, and other feed depending on what they are being raised for. Calves will need milk replacer, pregnant cows and heifers will need prenatal care, and livestock raised for consumption will need fatty, healthy foods.

“If your livestock are accustomed to foraging throughout the warmer months, you will need to make plans for additional food sources in the winter. Animals need to eat more in cold weather to provide extra calories for heat energy. If weather is cold and windy, livestock need extra feed just to keep warm. You will need food to supplement thin or snowed under pastures” (Southern States).

Having shelter is also important when it comes with having livestock. Whether they're out in a pasture with trees, have a lean-to, or a barn the animal will need shelter. Many farms have a three-sided lean to that can be bedded heavily for their livestock during the long winter months. Many shelters are bedded with straw or shavings that are refreshed each day.

“Winter for livestock farmers is a bit different than it is for crop farmers. Though they still have to manage their finances and plan for the coming year, they have the added responsibility of caring for animals in the cold, windy winter months. In addition to the everyday care that farmers always provide for their livestock, special attention has to be paid to water troughs that can freeze, livestock that can get frostbite, and technology that can shut down due to cold weather and ice” (iowaagliterarcy.com, 2015)

PC: Farmgirl Phtography

Downsizing the herd before winter can also be a very important part of preparing for winter. Many farms and ranches will sell off all unneeded livestock before winter hits and they are required to feed heavier portions. Livestock that is older and weak will require high maintenance and supervision. They will also need more minerals and feed in order to keep weight on their bones. Steers, mainly raised for consumption will be shipped off before winter as they will require more food and fatty minerals in order to sustain the amount of weight they have gained. A thin steer won’t bring in a lot of money once sold or harvested.

“When the temperatures start to drop, the work on the farm does not slow down. Now is the time to prepare your farm and livestock for the cold, winter temperatures ahead. Being prepared and having a winter emergency plan will reduce the number of sick animals and save money. Planning for and providing the basic needs – food, water and shelter, will help keep your animals healthy over the winter months” (Southern States).

Farmer’s don’t get an off season. They still have to get up, saddle up or hop in the truck and go out to check their animals. Farms continue on in sleet, rain, or sunshine. Farmers and ranchers all around America and the world have to prepare, think smart, and prepare themselves for winter.

-Jaksen Curtin

Resources:

Preparing Your Livestock Farm For Winter. (n.d.). Retrieved September 08, 2017, from https://www.southernstates.com/articles/preparing-livestock-farm-for-winter.aspx

Iowaagliteracy, /. (2015, February 02). What do Farmers do in the Winter? Retrieved September 08, 2017, from https://iowaagliteracy.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/what-do-farmers-do-in-the-winter/