News release issued December 29, 2000, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org

Livestock Endure Cold, Moisture Stress

ARDMORE, Okla. – Cattle producers in parts of Southern Oklahoma and North Central Texas have had a relatively rough go of it during the last six months: a prolonged late-summer drought and heat wave; widespread outbreaks of grass and brush fires; torrential rains and localized flash flooding in November.

And December proved to be none the kinder, slapping parts of the region with the worst ice storm in decades and chilling temperatures that make the last two winters seem like Hawaiian holidays.

Problems this go-around include cold and moisture stress on cattle, downed and broken fences, and loss of electrical power for seemingly routine ranching operations.

"Cattle need to be on a higher plane of nutrition and located in areas where they can find cover," explained Russ Gentry, coordinator of four Noble Foundation research and demonstration farms located in Carter and Love counties. "If they are calving, they need even better shelter."

The major winter storm that plagued the area recently could cost producers in the long run if proper preventive and maintenance measures aren’t taken, Gentry explained.

"You try to have cows go into winter in the best possible body condition," he said. "When wind, cold and moisture hit, she starts using her reserves. Producers need to use the best quality hay possible and supplement that with protein, twice a day if needed."

Despite the recent rains, producers should take extra care to ensure cattle have plenty of water, especially in areas where electrical pumps normally provide drinking water to livestock.

"The key to bovine warmth is keeping the hide dry," Gentry said. "When temperatures get below freezing and rain falls, the hair on the back might be covered with ice, but the hide should stay dry provided the animal’s body condition is adequate. It’s important to make sure they get plenty of water, roughage and supplementation to enable the animal to generate enough body heat to keep its hide dry. And in some cases producers will have to truck water in for their cattle."

Ice storms can render winter pasture temporarily ungrazable, making the need for supplemental feeding even more acute.

"When possible in icy conditions, cattle need to be pulled from winter pastures to prevent additional damage from trampling the frozen iced-over winter grass," said Hugh Aljoe, a Noble Foundation forage specialist. "The trampling damage is destructive to winter pasture stands since the frozen grass, once stepped-on in that state, is at best extremely slow to recover. Grazing can be resumed after thawing."

"Cattle can lose weight and body condition very rapidly under those conditions," Gentry said. "In that kind of weather your goal is just to maintain weight and condition."

Massive amounts of ice collecting on fences pose another potential problem.

"Another concern for area producers is cattle getting out or mixing with other herds," Gentry explained. "Trees or large limbs falling on fences and the weight of ice on hot-wire electric fences can bring them down."

Because of the stresses posed by the weather, producers should pay special attention to cattle with pre-existing health problems.

"It would be a good idea to monitor those animals extremely closely this time of year," Gentry added.

Information on the Foundation can be found on-line at www.noble.org.

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Photos:
The chance of trampling damage to winter pasture increases in icy conditions.
The key to bovine warmth is keeping the hide dry.
Cattle need high quality hay during cold winter weather.
Significant ice accumulations on an electric fence.
Electric fence downed by the weight of ice accumulations.
Ice thickness several times the width of the supporting wire fence.
Electric fence bent to the ground by the weight of accumulated ice.