With cold temperatures in mind, cattle producers may need to begin checking calves for signs of cold stress.
K-State Extension Beef Veterinarian AJ Tarpoff says that with cold snaps like we are currently experiencing, cattle will begin to show signs of reduced grazing, huddle together to combat the wind, and even shiver.
Tarpoff says that the temperature at which cattle begin to show stress depends on the conditions.
“Wet is really the big factor cause cattle can start experiencing a little bit of cold stress if they have a wet hide. If it just rained— here we are coming into November, early December we can still get some rain rather than snow. If we have wet hides, they can start experiencing that cold stress even in the upper 50s... it’s chilly to us, but if you were wet and walked outside from the shower, you would get chilled down. Cattle it’s no different, but when they start having a good solid dry hair, that thermal barrier is amazing.”
