Beef Buzz News
When Brutal Cold Hits, Cows Need Extra Energy And Attention, Says KSU Extension Beef Cow Specialist Justin Waggoner
Fri, 12 Feb 2021 08:18:51 CST
Cattle in good condition with good, dry haircoats can handle temperatures in the teens but when it gets in the single digits or below, stress becomes a major factor requiring producers to add extra care, said Justin Waggoner, Kansas State University Research and Extension beef cattle systems specialist.
With brutal cold bearing down on the High Plains, some producers may be forced to deal with conditions they are not familiar with, especially in the southern Plains. The K-State cattle scientist offers several ideas to keep those cattle alive.
We typically consider for every degree we go below the lowest critical temperature, that’s going to be about a one percent increase in that animal’s energy requirement, he said.
For example, if the critical temperature is 18 degrees and the temperature drop to 8 or 10 degrees, that’s about a 10 percent increase in energy required, Waggoner said.
The animal does not need extra protein, just more energy, he noted.
The KSU scientist said the animal’s grazing behavior will also change during extreme weather events.
When a blizzard blows in, cattle don’t go out and graze, he said.
This will require supplemental forage and Waggoner suggests using hay that is slightly better quality than the forage the cattle are used to grazing.
Cattle grazing on milo or corn stalks should be fed a moderate quality grass hay, he said.
The other thing producers can do is increase the feeding rate of byproducts such as distillers’ grain that bring more energy to the table.
The end goal is to get more energy into those cows during this cold weather event.
Waggoner said these steps should be taken anytime the extreme weather event lasts more than a couple of days.
What begins to happen is when cows begin to calve, they may be behind in conditioning due to the stress caused by the winter storm.
When cows are stressed by the cold and need extra energy, they are going to tap into their reserve body conditioning.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear more comments from Justin Waggoner.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Ron Hays Beef Buzzes With KSU's Justin Waggoner
right-click to download mp3
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Beef News
Today's Herd Bull Vastly Different Than 25 Years Ago, Says Jarold Callahan, Express Ranches Mon, 01 Mar 2021 08:42:59 CST
Cattle Market Forecast Calls For Strong Prices Ahead Says Kevin Good With CattleFax Fri, 26 Feb 2021 08:51:10 CST
New EPA Administration Water Officials Appear Willing to Work With Agriculture Says NCBA's Scott Yager Thu, 25 Feb 2021 07:41:53 CST
Help is on The Way For Cattle Producers Impacted by Brutal Cold Weather And Covid-19 Says NCBA's Ethan Lane Wed, 24 Feb 2021 08:18:25 CST
Data And Information Should Drive Cattle Market Transparency, Not Emotion, Says KSU Economist Dr. Glynn Tonsor Tue, 23 Feb 2021 08:12:31 CST
Latest Cattle on Feed Report Shows There Are Plenty of Cattle in The System, Says OSU's Dr. Peel Mon, 22 Feb 2021 08:15:22 CST
Everyone Agrees, Including Oklahoma Legislature, There Will Be a Cattlemen's Congress in 2022 Fri, 19 Feb 2021 08:53:52 CST
BQA Program Gives Consumers Confidence in Beef Producers, Says Idaho Rancher And Former CBB Chair Kim Brackett Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:33:39 CST
Large Genetic Toolbox Available For Angus Breeders Says AGI's Joel Cowley Wed, 17 Feb 2021 08:07:00 CST
KSU Veterinarian Offers Advice on Keeping Newborn Calves Alive During Brutal Cold Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:08:08 CST
Latest Technology on Display at Express Ranches Spring Bull Sale March 5th Mon, 15 Feb 2021 09:35:08 CST
When Brutal Cold Hits, Cows Need Extra Energy And Attention, Says KSU Extension Beef Cow Specialist Justin Waggoner Fri, 12 Feb 2021 08:18:54 CST
Tight Corn Supplies Equals Higher Corn Prices And Raises Cost of Gain For Feedlots, Says OSU's Derrell Peel Thu, 11 Feb 2021 08:37:08 CST
Good Nutrition Critical for Keeping Cattle Healthy in Brutal Cold Weather Says OSU Veterinarian Dr. Rosslyn Biggs Wed, 10 Feb 2021 08:32:21 CST
OSU Veterinarian Dr. Rosslyn Biggs Offers Advice on Preparing Cattle For Bitter Cold Temperatures Tue, 09 Feb 2021 08:41:30 CST
Tight Beef Supply Indicated in Latest USDA Cattle Inventory Report Says Katelyn McCullock, LMIC Mon, 08 Feb 2021 08:30:47 CST
Vilsack Makes it Clear During His Senate Ag Committee Confirmation Hearing he Wants More Cattle Market Transparency Fri, 05 Feb 2021 08:56:06 CST
Cattle Play a Major Role in Keeping us Healthy Says Dr. Sara Place Thu, 04 Feb 2021 08:15:12 CST
Widespread Industry Support Helped Get The Livestock Dealers Statutory Trust Law Passed Says LMA's Chelsea Good Wed, 03 Feb 2021 09:14:13 CST
New Law Will Help Livestock Sellers Recover Funds When a Dealer's Check Bounces Says LMA's Chelsea Good Tue, 02 Feb 2021 08:20:23 CST
January Cattle Inventory Report Shows Stability Depsite Pandemic says OSU's Dr. Derrell Peel Mon, 01 Feb 2021 09:00:43 CST
Congressman Frank Lucas Determined to Resolve Cattle Market Manipulation Issue Fri, 29 Jan 2021 08:30:44 CST
RAMP-UP Act Would Benefit Both Livestock Producers And Consumers, Says Cong. Frank Lucas Thu, 28 Jan 2021 08:29:08 CST
U.S. Beef Exports Expected to Increase 10 percent in 2021 Due to Growing E-Commerce Trade Says Dan Halstrom, USMEF Wed, 27 Jan 2021 08:20:12 CST
Latest Cattle on Feed Report Shows Higher Than Expected Placements Tue, 26 Jan 2021 08:25:41 CST
Helping Commercial Cattle Producers Capture Value of Angus Genetics is Troy Marshall's Focus With the American Angus Association Mon, 25 Jan 2021 08:38:48 CST
Oklahoma Cattle Producers Cautiously Optimistic Says OCA's Michael Kelsey Fri, 22 Jan 2021 08:34:02 CST
MOU Between USDA and FDA on Gene Editing is Good Business Says NCBA's Ethan Lane Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:24:49 CST
January Cattle Inventory Report Expected to Show a Stable U.S. Cow Herd Says OSU's Derrell Peel Wed, 20 Jan 2021 08:33:42 CST
Simmental Cattle Breeders Expect a Great Year After Their Success in 2020 Tue, 19 Jan 2021 08:05:42 CST
American Hereford Association Executive Jack Ward Proud of Breed's Genetic Improvements Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:17:21 CST
Gene Editing Technology Could Soon Be Common Practice For Beef Cattle Industry Fri, 15 Jan 2021 08:08:55 CST
Seedstock Industry Undergone Many Changes in Last 20 Years, Says Jack Ward, American Hereford Association Thu, 14 Jan 2021 08:06:15 CST
2020 Taught Beef Producers a Valuable Lesson, Says American Angus Assoc. CEO Mark McCully Wed, 13 Jan 2021 10:42:47 CST
Angus Breeders Survived 2020 By Being Flexible And Quickly Adapting, Says CEO Mark McCully Tue, 12 Jan 2021 08:02:38 CST