01/24/2026
❄️ Winter Weather Tips for Beef Cattle Producers ❄️
With prolonged cold temps and a major winter storm on the way, here are a few quick reminders:
Plan Ahead
• Set out multiple days of hay before the storm.
• Make sure cattle have consistent access to clean, unfrozen water - tanks can freeze quickly in single digit temps. Have a backup plan for delivering water if needed!
• Check water sources frequently; reduced water intake leads to reduced feed intake, which increases risk during cold stress.
Understand Lower Critical Temperature (LCT)
• Dry winter coat: LCT ≈ 18°F
• Wet winter coat: LCT ≈ 55°F
• When cattle get wet, they expend more energy to stay warm.
Energy Needs Increase in the Cold
• For every 1°C below the LCT, cattle require +1% more maintenance energy.
• Example: If LCT is 55°F (12.8°C) and it’s 25°F (–4°C), that’s a 17% increase in maintenance energy requirements.
Feed Quality Matters
• Poor quality hay is high in fiber, which limits intake, cattle simply can’t eat enough of it to meet higher winter energy needs.
• Consider energy supplementation, especially for lactating cows and those in late gestation.
• In cold stress, calories (energy) matter more than protein.
• Options include corn, soyhulls, high fat supplements, etc.
Shelter & Bedding
• Provide wind breaks or natural shelter.
• Use dry bedding (or unrolled hay) to reduce heat loss and prevent frostbite.
• Barns with poor ventilation or wet bedding make it harder for cattle to maintain body temperature and can do more harm than good.
Water & Frozen Pond Safety
• If water sources freeze, cattle may seek water at ponds and step onto unsafe ice.
• Ice thickness is highly variable; cattle can break through thin ice, leading to hypothermia, injury, or drowning.
• If possible, limit access to frozen ponds and ensure a reliable alternative water source is available.
• Producers should never walk onto a frozen pond to rescue livestock — use equipment with reach (ropes, boards, loaders) from solid ground.
Producer Safety
Your safety counts too:
• Avoid icy areas.
• Use caution when traveling or operating equipment on snow or ice.
• Dress for wind chill. And keep an extra set of dry clothes with you just in case.
• Always let someone know where you will be when working alone!
