As fall approaches, livestock producers need to start preparing their animals for the challenges of winter. The transition from fall to winter can be hard on livestock with early planning and attention to their needs, you can ensure your animals remain healthy and productive throughout the colder months. Here’s what livestock producers should focus on this fall to ensure a smooth winter season.

1. Assess and Adjust Body Condition

Fall is the final opportunity to make sure your livestock are in the proper body condition before winter begins. Livestock that are too thin will struggle to maintain body temperature during cold weather, while animals that are overweight may have difficulty with mobility or reproductive performance.

• Body Condition Scoring (BCS): Assess your animals using a body condition score (BCS). Ideally, livestock should have a BCS of 5 to 6 (on a scale of 1 to 9 for cattle) as they enter winter. On the BCS scale 1 is extremely thin and 9 is obese. Animals that fall below this range may need supplemental feed to build up body fat reserves before the first frost.

2. Plan Winter Feeding and Forage Management

Feed quality and availability are crucial for livestock during winter. With pastures fading and limited access to fresh forage, it’s essential to have a winter feeding plan in place.

• Evaluate Feed Inventory: Take stock of your hay, silage, or other stored feed supplies. Calculate how much feed will be needed based on the number of animals and their nutritional requirements. If your supplies are low, now is the time to buy additional feed before prices rise.
• Stockpiling Forage: If you haven’t already, consider stockpiling cool-season grasses or planting winter forage crops like rye, oats, or turnips. These can extend your grazing season into the colder months and reduce the need for stored feed.
• Feed Testing: Test your stored forage for nutrient content. The results will help you determine if your livestock’s diet needs supplementation, particularly with protein or energy, to meet their needs during winter.

3. Provide Essential Minerals and Supplements

Minerals are vital for maintaining health, growth, and reproduction, especially during the winter months when forages are low in nutrient content. Fall is the time to ensure your livestock have access to the minerals they need.

• Balanced Mineral Supplements: Offer balanced mineral supplements appropriate for your livestock species. Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium should be available year-round. Consider using free-choice mineral blocks or loose minerals to meet the changing needs of your animals.
• Trace Minerals: Copper, zinc, and selenium are critical trace minerals that support immune function and reproductive health. Deficiencies in these minerals can weaken livestock and make them more susceptible to illness during the winter.

4. Prepare Shelter and Infrastructure

Livestock need adequate shelter and infrastructure to withstand harsh winter conditions. Fall is the time to inspect and make necessary repairs to barns, fencing, and watering systems.

• Shelter and Windbreaks: Ensure that all animals have access to shelter, whether it’s a barn, lean-to, or natural windbreaks like trees. This will help them conserve body heat and protect against wind and snow.
• Water Supply: Livestock need constant access to clean, unfrozen water, even in freezing temperatures. Check your water supply systems for any issues that could cause problems in the winter. Consider adding water heaters or insulated water troughs to prevent freezing.

5. Monitor Health and Vaccinate

Livestock are more vulnerable to illness and stress during the colder months, making fall an important time for health checks and vaccinations.

• Vaccinations and Deworming: Schedule fall vaccinations to protect against common diseases that can worsen in cold weather. Deworming is also critical in reducing parasite loads, which can weaken livestock and make it harder for them to maintain body condition during winter.
• Hoof Care: Inspect and trim hooves to prevent foot problems that could worsen in wet or icy conditions. Healthy hooves help livestock move more easily through winter environments.

6. Breeding Season Considerations

If you plan on breeding livestock during the fall, it’s essential to pay attention to the health and nutrition of breeding stock.

• Monitor Reproductive Health: Ensure that breeding animals are in the appropriate body condition and are receiving the necessary nutrients to support pregnancy. Poor body condition can lead to lower conception rates and pregnancy complications.
• Bull Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE): is a thorough evaluation of a bull’s fertility and reproductive health, typically performed before the breeding season. The exam assesses physical characteristics, semen quality, and reproductive organs to ensure the bull can effectively breed and produce viable offspring. For producers, a BSE is crucial because a bull that fails to impregnate cows can result in missed breeding cycles, reduced calf crops, and significant financial loss. By conducting a BSE, producers can ensure their bulls are fit for breeding, leading to higher fertility rates and more efficient herd management.

Conclusion

Getting your livestock ready for winter requires planning and proactive management. By assessing body condition, planning for feed and forage, ensuring mineral availability, preparing shelter, and addressing health care needs now, you can set your animals up for a healthy, productive winter season. Fall is your last chance to make sure your livestock have everything they need to make it through winter successfully.