Give cattle shelter — but not too much, Purdue says

By Lisa M. Keefe on 2/2/2016. MeatingPlace.com

Extreme cold or rapidly changing weather can lower animals’ immune response, and so beef cattle seeking shelter from harsh winter weather could be at an increased risk of disease in overcrowded barns, Purdue University experts warned.

In inclement winter weather, given access to a good barn, beef cattle will seek shelter even if the barn is too small for the herd or has poor ventilation, said W. Mark Hilton, clinical professor of beef production medicine.

So while it may seem counter to popularly understood tenets of humane handling, Hilton recommends limiting access to barns and other shelters.

“If producers are calving in this weather … calves should have access to shelter while their dams should not,” he said. “If cows and calves are allowed free access to buildings it becomes an almost impossible task to keep the environment clean.”

In fact, Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef specialist, said cattle should be kept in outdoor lots and pastures unless the weather becomes unbearably frigid.

Abrupt changes in weather, such as a quick warm-up with rapidly melting snow, can also pose problems since wet, muddy fields make it harder for cattle to move easily or find nutritious feed.

The problem of finding adequate nutrition is especially acute this year because last year’s forage crop was hampered by extreme weather. After record rainfall and flooding early in the growing season, many forages were harvested too mature or with too high of a moisture content. As a result, forage quality was compromised.

For every 10-degree Fahrenheit drop in the wind chill factor below 30 degrees, the energy requirements for a typical cow increase by 13 percent, he said.