Early Cold Blast Prompts Livestock Cold Stress Warning

An early blast of arctic cold has landed in the Bluegrass, putting pressure on farmers to make sure their animals are ready for the assault.

 

“Some locations may even see the livestock cold stress index dip into the emergency category early next week,” said Matt Dixon, agricultural meteorologist for the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “This arctic air mass will continue to build over the next few days, and the lows the next few nights will bottom out in the upper teens and low 20s for most areas of the state. Wind chills could very well dip into the single digits at times on Monday and Tuesday night.”

 

These temperatures are about 20 degrees below normal for this time of year and will create dangerous conditions for livestock and outdoor pets. To complicate matters, Dixon said some areas could even see periodic snow accumulations.

 

Livestock producers should make sure animals have adequate shelter, water, dry bedding, and feed to make it through this cold spell. Pet owners should bring dogs and cats indoors. UK livestock specialists said animals have higher energy requirements in the colder months, so producers should have high-quality grains and forages on hand to meet their needs.

 

The average horse, with a lower activity level, should eat between 1.5 and 2 percent of its body weight in feed per day to maintain its weight. UK equine specialist Bob Coleman, PhD, PAS, said feed requirements increase in the winter as horses use more calories to keep warm. He recommended providing extra hay and making sure horses have shelter to get out of windy, damp weather. It’s also important for horses to have access to clean, unfrozen water. Make sure water sources are open for all livestock. A decrease in water intake will affect dry matter intake.