Livestock · January 2025 · 5 min read
Cold weather significantly increases the energy requirements of beef cattle, and failing to adjust winter rations can lead to weight loss, poor body condition, and reproductive problems. Understanding how cold stress affects nutrient demands helps you keep your herd healthy and productive through the toughest months.
Cattle begin experiencing cold stress when temperatures drop below their lower critical temperature, which ranges from 18 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit depending on hair coat and body condition. For every degree below this threshold, energy requirements increase by approximately 1 percent.
Wind chill, rain, and mud compound the effect. A wet coat loses its insulating value, dropping the lower critical temperature significantly. During severe cold snaps, energy needs can jump 20 to 30 percent above maintenance levels.
Not all hay is created equal, and testing your forage is the only way to know its true nutritional value. Send samples to a certified lab for analysis of crude protein, TDN (total digestible nutrients), and mineral content.
When hay alone cannot meet nutritional needs, supplement with energy and protein sources such as distillers grains, soybean hulls, corn gluten feed, or range cubes. Distillers grains are particularly cost-effective, providing both energy and protein.
Feed supplements consistently at the same time each day to maintain rumen function. Provide adequate bunk space so all animals can eat at once, which is especially important for timid cows that may be pushed away by more aggressive herd mates.
🐄 Calculate feed requirements with our free tool:
Try the Livestock Feed CalculatorMonitor your herd using body condition scores (BCS) on a 1 to 9 scale throughout winter. Cows should enter winter at a BCS of 5 to 6 and maintain or improve through calving. Thin cows at calving have lower milk production and delayed rebreeding.
Evaluate BCS monthly and adjust rations before cows lose too much condition. It is far more efficient to maintain condition than to try to regain it in late winter when feed costs are highest.