As the late fall and early winter months come about, it is time to start thinking about preparing your animals for the harsh Iowa weather. These months can bring heavy rainfall making everything messy and muddy, wind, cold temperatures, and also large amounts of snow. Not only is this type of weather hard for us farmers but also for our animals increasing their energy requirements.
It is extremely important for cows to have good body condition on them so they can deal with the weather stress. At my house we feed our beef cows corn silage/ or hay silage, which ever we have in the silo that year, two times a day before the snow starts to fall. Round bales of hay are also a huge part of our feedings. As farmers, you want to have emergency hay reserves on hand to keep the cattle's energy and nutrient levels normal to survive the winter.
Having windbreaks or buildings for your animals to lie under is also a necessity to keep them from getting stressed and sick during the cold winter months. Dry bedding is also an important factor in keeping hair coats from becoming wet and muddy. At the Luzum farm, we provide multiple corn stalk bales for warmth and comfort. These ladies are in the final days of gestation and we want to make sure their bodies are working hard to develop a healthy calf, rather than create body heat.
And last, but not least, keeping a fresh water supply in working order is crucial. Checking the electric waters on a daily basis is a must. Every now and then when we have a wind chill way below zero one of our electric waters will freeze up. It’s on those days when I really appreciate my Dad’s work ethic. He is out there in freezing cold temperatures with hot water in a pail and a heat source thawing out the pipes. It’s on these days when the slogan rings truer than ever, “Bustin’ ours to feed yours.”
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