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Winter Cattle Condition

A

Anonymous

Guest
Body conditioning and hair coat are very important. Cattle need to carry a little extra fat for insulation. To accomplish this, producers provide extra feed to help them gain weight. Prior to winter, they also allow the cattle to be in open-air barns or to run outside, which helps them grow a thick coat before the cold weather sets in. The true test on a snowy day is to see snow staying on the backs of the cattle, which means they are not losing a lot of body heat.
http://www.ellinghuysen.com/news/articles/96372.shtml



I was reading an article on taking care of cattle in cold weather- and this is the passage that stood out to me.. Its kind of been the quick-guide for me if the cattle are the type I like- and in the shape I want them for the winter...
Another reason I don't run from a cow/bull with a little higher Fat EPD either...
 

per

Well-known member
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Grassfarmer

Well-known member
Sounds like some wizardly words from an academic OT. I agree with the concept but without considering different types of snow and different prevailing temperatures it's a bit like guessing how long a piece of string is.
 

movin' on

Well-known member
OT,

I actually had someone tell me that a long time ago and thought it was a brilliant observation that made sense.

I don't remember if it was on this site or not, but someone was talking about how good it was to see snow melting off of cattle as opposed to stacking up on them. I remember thinking "yeah, right!" when I read it.

I think we can say, without question, that a house that has snow sitting on it for several days longer than the one next to it, is better insulated. (assuming same pitch, color, etc.)
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
movin' on said:
OT,

I actually had someone tell me that a long time ago and thought it was a brilliant observation that made sense.

I don't remember if it was on this site or not, but someone was talking about how good it was to see snow melting off of cattle as opposed to stacking up on them. I remember thinking "yeah, right!" when I read it.

I think we can say, without question, that a house that has snow sitting on it for several days longer than the one next to it, is better insulated. (assuming same pitch, color, etc.)

I've heard it used by many cattle people all my life-- just the first time I saw someone write it down in an article....

When you read the entire article- its almost sounds like it is one aimed at the general population- that know little or nothing about cattle- and to educate them to the fact that the livestock are not being mistreated...
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
alot depends on the hair type-long hair isn't necessarily better-it's like the difference between open fleeced and tight fleeced sheep. Some cows when they are in a stiff wind you can see there skin while others have a shorter denser hair coat. You can really notice it whern you start clipping cattle to brand.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
I know that black angus are really hard to brand in the fall or winter.
You have to clip the hair or it takes forever to brand them.
So tight and wooly and THICK...
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
gcreekrch said:
You know it's a good winter when you have to go to the neighbor's for coyote/wolf bait. :wink:

Speaking of coyote bait i shot 2 that's right 2 coyotes with one shot this morning. By the time I had my breakfast there was another out there so I shot it as well.
The neighbor lady was down for coffee at Mom and Dads today. They saw 16 in a pack one day 4 miles up the road from here. :shock:
 

gcreekrch

Well-known member
Big Muddy rancher said:
gcreekrch said:
You know it's a good winter when you have to go to the neighbor's for coyote/wolf bait. :wink:

Speaking of coyote bait i shot 2 that's right 2 coyotes with one shot this morning. By the time I had my breakfast there was another out there so I shot it as well.
The neighbor lady was down for coffee at Mom and Dads today. They saw 16 in a pack one day 4 miles up the road from here. :shock:


A $60 day before chores is a good way to start the day. :wink: I got one in the moonlight a week ago. The only coyote I've seen for a month. Wolves have been howling the last three days fairly close.
 

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