November 16, 2005

US Plains winter storm to have little impact on cattle
 

A winter storm passing through the central and northern US Plains states Tuesday is not expected to give area cattle much trouble, although newly weaned and fresh feedlot arrivals could experience increased stress, extension beef specialists said.

The storm would not have any effect on cattle that have been on feed for more than 30 days, said Galen Erickson, extension beef specialist at the University of Nebraska.

"Other than a little discomfort, I don't think this (storm) will have much effect," Erickson said.

Studies have shown that wet, cold conditions are the most challenging for feedlot cattle, Erickson said. But mud that would not go away is the worst, he said.

Mud will lower feed efficiency if it stays muddy for a long period of time, and mud typically is more of a problem from February through April, he said.

Joel DeRouchey, extension livestock specialist at Kansas State University, said cattle are pretty resilient to colder weather, but ups and downs in temperatures can cause stress, especially to the younger livestock. The need for feed intake and nutrients goes up substantially when poor weather hits, and it increases management requirements for feedlot cattle and for those cows and calves on pasture.

A sudden change to wintry weather conditions could increase respiratory problems and raise veterinary costs associated with raising and feeding cattle, DeRouchey said. But a lot depends on the animal's health prior to the storm.

The thermo neutral zone for healthy cattle is 23 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, DeRouchey said in an Extension Service release. When the temperature outside falls below or rises above the animal's comfort zone, the body needs to produce more energy to keep the animal cool or warm.

Information on the Kansas State University webpage also says the degree to which cattle have grown a winter coat makes a difference in the critical low temperature for cattle. With a summer coat, or when the coat is wet, the critical low temperature is 60 degrees, the Web site said. However, if the animal has a fall coat that is dry, the temperature drops to 45 degrees.

This storm was moving through at a relatively swift pace, DeRouchey and Erickson said. Neither expected long-term problems, especially in well-maintained feedlots that offer the cattle a place to get out of the mud.