When our former family bought a dairy cow in the suburbs, the list of questions was a mile long!Working on farms and keeping our own cows in the winter.
Our simple winter -king -set
We store a Maly -cow and one or two of her calves on our5 hectare houseIn the north of Illinois we learned a ton with a little earlier experience.
Our setup is nothing special!Cows are hardy animals and can process low temperatures.on grasslandAll the growing season and the fed by the cold months, which gives them a lot of extra energy to get them due to the cold conditions.
This video shows more of our winter Queuing setup.
Even when they eat hay in the winter, the cows are outside in a fenced paddock.Our cabins in our polar stable are only reserved for the coldest pieces or when they are wet and need a place to wipe.
With the right food, water and shelter, keeping your cows warm and happy is 100% feasible all winter!
Cows cold and what can they tolerate?
Cows are happiest in the weather between 40-60 ° F.de will generally be comfortable with temperatures that reach up to 18-20 ° F.Under this interval, cows can experience taxes in their cold environment and require extra care and control.If their needs are met, cows can process the temperatures to zero or less.
Cows are warm animals and retain a constant core temperature around 101 ° F. Course that retains this body temperature seem calm.Falls, they can be in a stressful condition of the cold.
The largest winter threat is when the coating of a cow is wet followed by freezing temperatures.We will talk more about hiding places below, but some access to a dry space without wind is a necessity.On your own hands.This body heat can only help them if you enter cold wind and cold rain.
This applies in particular with newborn or young calves.If a newborn calf is born in temperatures below 32 ° F, they should probably be brought into a shed or shelter to sweep and keep warm.To moderate their constant core temperature and an adult cow, and are therefore more sensitive to the cold temperatures and has not had time to build a sufficient winter coat.
That said, cows are built for the cold and able to maintain their own body temperatures to stay warm.
How do cows stay warm in the winter?
Cows have three ways to stay warm in the winter:Winter hair grow,,Thick and thick skinInRight food intake.
1. Winter hair grow
During the cool autumn months, the cows start to grow a thick hair coating.Nat, which causes cold stress on the cows.We like to keep an eye on it again and make adjustments for example.We prevent the progress from being increased to stable access for them.
2. Thick and thick skin
A cow can also prepare for the winter by roasting and consuming extra food. But you can also notice that their desire to prepare for the winter months by increasing their food intake and storing extra fat under their skin.Combined with the overall good diet will add a layer of protection against cold conditions.
3. Correct food intake
Cows are ruminants, which means that their stomach is designed to digest and internal fermentation of grass and other plants.To talk more about.
Does body mode mean something?
The basic answer to this is yes, good body status and a score of a KO's Body Fashion score to help thrive in low temperatures.Over time, good body status can contain many variables, including a cow breed, genetics and unique bio-Indi-life-makeup.
A clear example is that dairy cattle has a different building than beef and tends to show more bone structure.Our sweaterDairy cow, Thimble, often gets the label with 'bad condition' if we know that she is getting good food through higher quality hay, fresh water and sufficient calorie intake.Thimble is in good condition and tends not to see body status in a way that suits everyone.
Milk Cows vs.rund meat cows in the winter
Dairy kids and beef do not differ that much.But because they are bred in different functions, the cold temperatures influence them in different ways.
Dairy cow
Milk Vee not only uses energy to stay warm, but also to continue to produce milk during the winter months.months.
We found it useful to check the stock of our cow's milk during the winter months to know if they are missing something in their diet and stay warm enough.Add less energy to milk production.Does this not tell that they need more food, minerals or access to shelter.
The outer and teats of dairy cows are particularly vulnerable during the winter months.
When we experience wounds on teat of the cold with our dairy cow, we know it is time to offer her more shaving access to get her out of the wind.BalmFor the wounds, gentle during milking and hair, give a dry, wind -free hiding place with extra straw, she will usually heal within a few days.
Beef cows
Beef will also have increased intake needs in the winter months.
Beef cows are also generally more difficult than dairy cows because their larger framework and building enable them to make their bodies heat up more easily in freedom temperatures with fewer needs and input.
What do cows eat in the winter?
If you know that the intake of a cow's feed will rise from 20-50% during the winter months, what do you feed them?
Their diet is often similar to what it does for the rest of the year.preserved until consumption beyond the growing season.
Cows can also be fed or a combination of grain and hay.When hay or grain is scarce, other supplements can be cornst stems, wheat stro or soy -hull.
We feed our high quality high -quality cowshayDuring the winter and has discovered that it is important to them.
Fresh water and minerals in the winter
Constant access to a clean and frozen water supply for your cows is an absolute must!
There are two common options:
The most common is addingcompelling or floating tank heatersTo water tanks.We have a submitted heating with a storage tank of 100 gallon that we are currently using as a backup.If you don't have a frost -resistant Hydrant next door.
The other option is oneAutomatic heated waterIt uses geothermal heat and/or a heating to stay frozen all winter.Jug Waterer Review.We love it completely and it is a lifeguard, especially during the winter months!
Salt and mineralsIs another great nutritional needs that occurs every winter. So make sure you have a new stock of salt and minerals for them.
We started to buy a salt block and mineral block from our local farm shop.This worked great, but we discovered that it was slightly wasted.
We now prefer a loose salt and mineral mixture called 10 -Fine from the agriculture of Redmond.We just place a small scoop in a weighted rubber house Animal Bowl daily and they lick it clean without waste.
Do cows need shelter in the winter?
The short answer is: "Yes."If you have a suitable stable setup, you can certainly give them so much access to what you would like.
Observation is your biggest tool when it comes to having your cows have access to a shed or other hiding place..
The thermometer recently showed -2 ° F, so we opened the barn for our dairy cow at night.
Requirements for winter cattle
Usually a hiding place with at least 3 sides and a roof is a minimum requirement for good protection against wind and precipitation.
A stand in a stable is ideal like a winter fee on the sides.
If in a pinch there can be a more basic approach to make T-posts or fence posts and attach pallets or multiplex plates to them to make a wind barrier or bushes.months .
Where to sleep cows in the winter?
During the winter nights, cows probably choose to sleep under the stars like for the rest of the year.shelter and dry bedding to keep the heat and keep it dry.
As we have discovered with our dairy cow, they will often lie in a hot pile of berry to keep warm!Cows are just a bit messy in the winter.Plan a little extra time to clean them.
Winter cows can be happy cows!
So yes, there are some extra things to think and control in the winter.
You do not need a pristine charger or a detailed winter setup.Cows know how to stay warm and stay happy and healthy all winter!
Your leadership and care will play an important role in it!Keep an eye on them.And stay close to the weather.
What about you?What patterns did you notice in the winter?
For more information about a family milk shoe or keep cows at your home:
To possess a family cow -cow -based
Simple commercial process for beginners
How many cows per hectare on a small farm
What about rotation -grazing on a small scale
Calvation - How to add flexibility to your home
Breaks out the costs of a healthy dairy cow
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