:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/4DXB442O45H55NDFEFEJWTDHLY.jpg)
By Teresa L. Steckler
It is a beautiful fall so far, a little warm, but overall rather pleasant. Finally, southern Illinois is getting some needed rains! However, with deceasing day length and temperatures, many pastures may have already gone dormant and will add little to any new growth. Cattlemen may have an opportunity, during the periods of rain, to assess whether you are ready the upcoming winter — pastures, feedstuffs, waterers, etc.
Keeping warm is the largest part of cattle’s maintenance requirements in the winter, and cattle will use available nutrients for maintenance before fulfilling any other needs. If adequate nutrition is not provided, cows will pull energy from body fat reserves to keep warm. Thus, cows must be supplied with enough protein and energy to meet their maintenance requirements, as well as additional nutrients to support fetal development, lactation, and for some, growth.
Considering your calving season, pasture regrowth, and cattle body condition scores, how well do you think the cows will fare this winter? Are your cows ready to enter into a brutally cold winter like last year? If not, consider making changes in your ration to replenish those lost reserves.
Are you ready for winter? Have you been able to bale a sufficient amount of dry forage to last the entire winter season? The summer was great for hay production in many areas of the state. If you know you will be short on hay, begin purchasing early. If you are unsure how much hay you will need, use the following example as a guide.
How much hay will a 1,100 pounds beef cow need over a six-month feeding period? We will assume average quality grass hay, average weather conditions and no lactation during the feeding period. Using a dry matter intake (DMI) of 2% of body weight, we can estimate her daily DMI as 22 pounds of hay (24.2 pounds as fed, adding back in 10% water weight for hay). Multiplying this daily intake by 182 days in the feeding period results in 4,404 pounds (2.2 tons) of hay needed for this cow. Now multiply this number times the number of animals needing to be fed and you have the total amount of hay required for the winter feeding period, excluding any lost during storage and feeding.
How and where hay is stored after baling also has a significant effect on the amount of DM lost. Weathering (environment) reduces the dry weight of hay and changes its composition. Weathering lowers the feeding value of hay 15 to 25%, in addition to any dry matter losses. Weathering losses are greatly influenced by climatic variables; higher rainfall and more humid conditions cause more loss than drier climates.
Remember, weathering occurs not only on the tops and sides of hay stored outside, but also where hay contacts moist ground. Research in Indiana has shown that storing bales on crushed rock versus the ground reduced the weathered portion from 23% to 11% of the original bale weight.
Depending on your feeding system, you will also need to figure in an additional 10% to 50% as hay waste. You can easily double your hay usage, if bales are placed in the pasture or lot without a feeder. In this situation the hay becomes expensive bedding for the cows, let alone doubling your winter feed costs.
A cow needs the correct level of nutrients to at least maintain her body weight during winter. Heading into the winter months, cows should have a body condition scoring of 5 to 6 (where 1 is emaciated and 9 is obese). Optimally, this body condition should be maintained throughout winter, regardless of their diet. Increasing the cow’s body condition prior to winter can provide a valuable “cushion” for times of increased energy needs. Loss of too much body condition can significantly impact the following: calves may be born weak; colostrum production may be inadequate in amount and/or quality, which can compromise calf survival; and the postpartum interval may be lengthened.
Not only do cattle need adequate feed during the winter, but it is vital that they have plenty of water available. Ensuring an adequate and dependable supply of water will encourage optimal health and performance of livestock. You can’t just rely on natural water sources because in really cold weather the water will freeze and it can take days before it thaws out. You will need to make sure that fresh water is available several times a day. Before the weather turns, check that the waterers and tank heater or de-icer are functioning properly; if parts are needed you have ample time to order, receive and repair the waterer. Follow the manufacturers’ recommendations carefully to prevent fires and electric shocks. If you don’t use a heater, there are still some things you can do to prevent your water source from freezing such as insulating the pipes and faucets.
When the wind picks up and the temperatures fall, livestock will need shelter. Before it gets too cold, set up shelter or windbreak areas. Wind breaks come in different forms such as barns, open sheds, tree groves, and even stacks of hay. Be sure to winterize the barn and any other shelter buildings on the farm. Inspect the roof and make sure it is stable enough to hold the heavy weight of snow and ice. Check for and repair any roof leaks.
Closely monitor your cows daily throughout winter. Their needs may change as the temperatures fluctuate. If some start to lose weight, you can quickly intervene by providing supplemental feed. Preparing for winter, being prepared for unexpected emergencies, frequent monitoring, common sense and practical animal husbandry will bring your cattle through the winter in fine shape.
Teresa L. Steckler is a University of Illinois Extension specialist, commercial agriculture, tsteckle@illinois.edu.