As livestock producers, we have a lot of concerns. We worry about input costs, if we made the right breeding decisions and where cattle prices will be when we are ready to sell. All these are issues that you likely deal with regularly. Another concern for many ranchers is the weather.
Now, cattle are hardy animals. They can typically manage most weather thrown at them, and when weather becomes an issue, it’s often a result of extreme heat. However, as we transition seasons, it is time to think about cold stress in cattle. So, how cold can cows tolerate?
The BioZyme® team is actually comprised of several cattle producers. Although we might not love being in cold weather, our cattle are typically fairly cold-tolerant. However, with the recent string of more severe winters, and genuine interest amongst our customers, we thought it was worth discussing. After all, our goal here at VitaFerm® is to empower you to excel in all aspects of cattle production.
Cattle Nutrition Experts
Although we have some cattle producers on the team, our main focus is on animal nutrition. VitaFerm® is an established brand of vitamin and mineral supplements designed to maximize energy and forage utilization for successful beef production. Our products support cattle producers looking to maximize their operations. Best of all, VitaFerm products ensure balanced nutrition for livestock.
The VitaFerm brand is the flagship brand of BioZyme Inc., BioZyme creates powerful solutions that improve animal performance and support producer profitability in the agricultural industry.
Our mission: undeniable positive impact on the health and wellness of your animals and your business.
So, How Cold Can Cows Tolerate?
Cows are generally hardy animals that can tolerate cold temperatures very well, especially when acclimated and properly cared for. They can endure a lot, but it does change them metabolically, we just can’t see it. Typically, a lower critical temperature (LCT) is around 18 degrees Fahrenheit with a full winter coat.
“So will they survive, yes. But will it potentially cause metabolic changes and stressors, also yes. While they can survive harsh colds, what we can’t see internally is what we need to focus on,” said Chris Cassady, Ph.D., BioZyme Director of Beef Technical Sales.
Beef cattle can typically endure temperatures as low as -20° Fahrenheit, and even colder, especially when they have good nutrition, are in good health and have adequate shelter or windbreaks.
Dairy cows, on the other hand—especially those in peak production—are more sensitive to cold. While they can still handle temperatures down to around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, they require more energy from feed to maintain body heat and production levels.
VitaFerm® is a line of nutritional supplements for beef cattle that maximize energy and forage utilization for successful production, Since VitaFerm is created for beef cattle, the focus of this blog will primarily be on beef cattle.
Factors Influencing Cold Tolerance in Beef Cattle
Cold tolerance in beef cattle is influenced by a combination of physiological, genetic, environmental and management factors.
Genetics & Breed
How cold can cows tolerate? Well, it depends on the breed. Some breeds of cattle are more cold-tolerant than others. For example, breeds like Angus, Hereford and Highland cattle originated and evolved in colder climates. They have thicker coats and more body fat than Brahmans, for instance, making them more resilient in cold weather.
Cattle that are raised in colder regions tend to develop adaptations over time, such as thicker hides and coats. One example is cattle raised in colder climates, like Montana or the Dakotas, are likely to be hardier and will hair up more than their counterparts raised in the Deep South, even within the same breed.
Body Condition & Fat Reserves
A good body condition score (BCS) with adequate fat reserves helps insulate cattle against cold weather. Fat serves as insulation, reducing the loss of body heat. That said, you don’t want a cow that is overly conditioned as you move into your winter calving season. When you are considering what to feed cows during the various production phases, remember that you want your cows to be a BCS of about at least 5, but preferably a 6 prior to calving.
Additionally, cattle with more muscle mass tend to produce more body heat, which improves cold tolerance.
Hair Coat
A thick winter coat provides insulation by trapping warm air near the skin. Cattle with a thicker and longer coat are better at withstanding cold temperatures. Furthermore, a clean, dry coat provides better insulation than a wet or dirty one. Wet coats lose their insulating properties, leading to increased heat loss. That is why it is important to provide windbreaks and adequate bedding during storms if feasible.
Environmental Conditions & Shelter
How cold can cattle tolerate? It might seem like an obvious answer at first, but that depends on how cold it is outside. Climate plays a major part in cattle’s performance, and understanding that is key to preventing it from hurting your bottom line. Wind chill and high humidity can intensify cold stress by increasing heat loss. Providing windbreaks or shelter reduces the impact of wind chill and wet conditions.
Dry bedding, such as straw, helps cattle stay warm by providing insulation from cold, wet ground. Especially as cows get close to calving, be sure to provide dry bedding, in case one does deliver early. Wet, frozen or muddy ground can lead to cold stress.
Age & Size
Young calves, especially newborns, are more susceptible to cold stress due to their smaller body size and thinner coats. They have less body fat, muscle and hair making it harder to generate and retain heat.
Larger animals have a lower surface-area-to-body-mass ratio, which helps conserve heat. Smaller animals are at greater risk of cold stress.
Health Status
Healthy cattle with a robust immune system are more effective of withstanding cold stress. Illness can compromise the animal’s ability to cope with cold. Cattle with chronic health issues or respiratory problems tend to struggle more in cold environments.
“Adding cold stress on top of an already nutrition-taxing immune system makes it harder for the calf to recover from disease as well,” Cassady said.
Behavioral Adaptations
Cattle will often huddle together to conserve heat and protect themselves from wind. They may also seek shelter wherever they can, like in barns, near windbreaks or from tree rows. And guess what? When cattle are huddled or in closed in areas together, they spread germs. That is why increasing their immune status in the winter is critical as well.
Nutrition & Metabolic Heat Production
During cold weather, cattle require more energy to maintain body temperature. A higher energy diet, particularly one with increased roughage, helps cattle produce heat through digestion. Undernourished cattle are more prone to cold stress due to reduced fat reserves and lower metabolic heat production.
“Basically, once the animal falls below her LCT, she’s going to start putting energy toward thermoregulating herself. Obvious implications that if she’s in survival mode instead of production mode, we lose opportunity revenue,” Cassady said.
He suggests two ways producers can combat this: supplement with energy dense grain products or increase their intake of hay. Two problems with this exist. First, they haven’t been adapted to grain, so there will be a potential drop in rumen pH, which is where Amaferm can help. Secondly, if the forage quality isn’t high enough, the cows can’t get enough hay consumed to meet this energetic demand because they are full. Amaferm helps break that down, and increase VFA production.
We’ll discuss further how VitaFerm mineral supplements powered by AO-Biotics® Amaferm® can help with both nutrition and digestion a little further. Keep reading for more information about how cold can cows tolerate!
How To Improve the Cold Tolerance in Your Herd
So, how cold can cows tolerate? Well, there’s actually a lot you can do to impact that. Here’s a few strategies you can implement in your operation to improve the cold tolerance, and thus performance, of cattle in winter.
1. Grow Winter Coats
You might be in your trusty coveralls, winter boots and cap with ear flaps. However, your cattle have a built-in winter coat. As the seasons change, and temperatures drop, they naturally hair up, especially in colder climates. These thicker, longer coats that cattle grow serve as self-insulation.
2. Shelter & Bedding
Protection from wind and moisture, like snow or rain, significantly improves a cow’s cold tolerance. A shelter like a barn or windbreak, even a natural one like a tree row are important to stop the harsh winds that many experience. If you are putting your cattle in a barn, make sure it is well-ventilated. Ventilation allows humidity so the moisture can cause an even greater chill on your cattle.
Especially closer to calving and during mud situations, be sure to provide fresh, dry straw bedding. The bedding will keep your cattle dry and warm, especially when there is a chill in the air. In extreme cold and moisture, newborn calves need to be monitored. Move the pair inside if possible to dry bedding and a warmer area.
3. Provide Quality Nutrition
In addition to increasing the quality and quantity of energy that your cattle receive, increasing the amount of feed helps cattle generate more body heat through fermentation. However, the key point of Amaferm is using it as a tool to get more energy metabolized by the cow.
More forage digestibility leads to less physical fill so she can eat more. More VFA production provides the extra energy needed for thermoregulation.
All VitaFerm vitamin and mineral supplements are powered by Amaferm, a prebiotic research-proven to increase digestibility. By increasing digestibility, your cattle are automatically increasing their body temperature internally.
“Amaferm can help unlock the nutritional value of all types of forages. Amaferm goes beyond stimulating the growth of beneficial rumen bacteria and can also promote rumen fungal growth and enzymatic activity. This increases fiber digestibility and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production by 17% and 16%, respectively. As such, more energy becomes available to your cows, leading to more performance,” Cassady said.
In addition to increasing body temperature, Amaferm also helps your feedstuffs and forages go further, helping decrease the overall cost.
“Research proves that cattle fed Amaferm synthesize 143 more grams of microbial protein each day. That’s enough protein equivalent to a pound of supplemented soybean meal available for the cow or heifer. This additional protein generated from Amaferm in a year-round supplemental program can help producers reduce their need for additional protein by up to 40% annually, a huge continuous savings on feed costs,” Cassady said.
VitaFerm Provides Options
The VitaFerm brand offers various product lines for your cow herd’s reproductive success.
VitaFerm® ONE
VitaFerm ONE provides one solution to conveniently and consistently promote cattle performance in all seasons. All VitaFerm ONE products contain Amaferm to enhance digestibility. They meet or exceed nutrient requirements throughout the production cycle and are formulated with research-proven organic copper and zinc for enhanced bioavailability.
Several other formulas exist, in addition to the original ONE formula, which offers one solution for all seasons and comes in both loose mineral form and a 35-pound block.
Free-choice mineral formulas also exist that are designed
- To help control anaplasmosis
- Control flies
- Contains the patented HEAT technology.
VitaFerm® Concept•Aid®
The Concept•Aid products promote effective, easy breeding when fed 60 days pre-calving through 60 days post-breeding. All Concept•Aid products include Amaferm and organic copper, iodine, and zinc for maximum bioavailability, innate immunity, and hoof health. They also contain high levels of Vitamin E to support reproductive tract repair and milk quality.
Concept•Aid products come in numerous loose minerals and two tub formulas. There are formulas that help control anaplasmosis, grass tetany, and flies. Some formulas contain MOS (mannan oligosaccharides) or our HEAT® technology. Some contain a combination of the above.
To discover the Concept•Aid formula best for your management scenario, use our Concept•Aid Navigator.
VitaFerm® ReproMaxx™
VitaFerm ReproMaxx is a premium free-choice vitamin and mineral supplement for beef cattle designed to maximize reproductive success with research proven levels of Zinpro organic trace minerals.
ReproMaxx was launched in the Summer of 2024 to provide producers with another level to maximize their reproductive success with verified, research-proven levels of Zinpro organic zinc, copper and manganese. Still with Amaferm, ReproMaxx also supports colostrum quality and bull soundness and fertility.
Get Your VitaFerm Today
Although cows are typically cold-hardy, we hope we have answered your question of “how cold can cows tolerate?” We want to continue to provide producers with answers as part of our commitment to care that comes full circle.
At BioZyme, we give you options within the VitaFerm line. Not sure what to feed cows when it comes to the VitaFerm line? Check out our Concept•Aid Product Navigator.
Get your VitaFerm products from an authorized BioZyme dealer today. Our extensive dealer network is here to help you meet mineral needs.
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