Nutrition Calculation Tips for Cattle Feeding in Cold Temperatures

The historically cold winter storm impacted much of the country over the Christmas holiday, particularly throughout the Midwest, where some areas saw wind chills as cold as 60 below zero. Keeping cattle warm and safe is a full-time job for every temperate-area producer, with nutrition for beef cows during cold temperatures critical to keeping your herd safe and healthy.

But what’s the right combination and amount of supplements for your herd – and your wallet? The Mesonet Cattle Comfort Advisor is an excellent tool for understanding what extra nutrition is needed to combat cold conditions. According to the tool, a cow’s energy requirement increases by 1% for each degree the index is below 32 degrees. If the animal is wet, this energy need will double to 2%.

Read more on cold weather cattle nutrition requirements here.