Bovine Veterinarian: Get Ready for the Next Cold Snap

January 2, 2024 Cattle management, Dairy

Get Ready for the Next Cold Snap

by Paul Beck, November 21, 2023

Dairy Cow
University of Maine Extension Wolf’s Neck Farm, Freeport ME
Portable Milking machine
Mangalista pigs
Turkeys

Cows tend to lose their acclimation to cold weather when we have a series of nice thermoneutral days. Condition of cows and their hair coat can play a large part in their tolerance to colder conditions.

Cows in good body condition, those with body condition scores of 5 to 6, with good thick winter hair coats have a lower critical temperature around 32° Fahrenheit. Thin cows with thinner hair coat are at more risk with lower critical temperatures of around 40° F, while cows with wet haircoat have lower critical temperature of 59° F.

To learn more, visit the Bovine Veterinarian website >>>