Beef Cattle: Built Tough

Winter has decided to show its face here in the dairy state. As I continue to interview farmers around my area, I have realized how tough these animals are. Beef cattle have been bred to be able to thrive in harsh conditions, bad winters, and hard climates.

PC: Kate gorham photography

One of the farmers I talked to explained how important it is to give cattle shelter from wind and snow during the winter months. He talked about how important it is to keep the herd healthy but not to baby them. He stressed the importance of keeping the animals as close to their natural environment as possible.

When the winter months come around, there are a couple options for shelters. The first is natural shelter. An area with trees, thick brush, or areas with hills that the cattle can lay down but are still sheltered from winds. Land with natural shelters for livestock is ideal for farms because they are on the land and, in some ways, free.

PC: Kate gorham photography

Other shelters could be man-made lean-tos, barns, and run in sheds. There are wind barriers along with shelter over top. Many farms will place down bedding or insulate the structure in order to give it more protection.

PC: Leanne Belway

Shelters are always a good idea when it comes to livestock, but on rural farms with hundreds of acres of flat land, shelters aren't always an option. That’s when we realize how tough God built these creatures. They are able to withstand months of cold snow and wind, cold rain, blistering summer sun all while raising their calves, foraging for food, and some days walking for miles on end to new grounds. These animals are truly built tough.

Beef cattle have thick skin when it comes to harsh climates. During cold times, they stand close together, sheltering themselves using one another. Their thick coats insulate heat and repel water in order to keep them as dry as possible. Their bodies are build thick all the way through with muscle, fat, and mass help to keep their bones warm.

PC: Leanne Belway

Beef cattle are built stocky, low to the ground, and sturdy. Their thick legs help get through thick snow and hard terrain. Beef cattle are evenly proportioned to be able to balance themselves, move quickly, and efficiently. They are able to quickly adapt to their environments. When it’s cold, they grow thick coats, then when summer comes, that coat sheds out to a thinner coat, able to easy regulate heat. They have split hooves which enables them to balance their weight better especially when they begin to slip or are on uneven ground.

God sure didn’t make beef cattle weak. He made them built to take on harsh conditions and keep going no matter the climate. Beef cattle are truly built tough.