By Karn Dhingra
Freezing temperatures eventually reach every corner of Texas, due to the state’s famously unpredictable winter weather. With advance preparation, Texans can reduce damage to their homes and landscapes while keeping animals safe when temperatures drop.
Texas A&M AgriLife and Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences experts offer practical, research-informed guidance to protect livestock, plants, pipes and pets during winter cold snaps.
Prepare to protect livestock
Texas livestock owners face different winter challenges depending on their region, said Eric Kneese, DVM, clinical associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Texas Panhandle producers often face prolonged freezes and blizzards, while Central and East Texas operations cope with wet, cold conditions and wind chills. In South Texas, producers may deal with short but sharp temperature drops.
“Preparation looks different depending on location, but the principles are the same: reduce wind exposure, keep animals dry, ensure reliable water access and provide enough nutrition,” Kneese said.
Producers should utilize windbreaks such as tree lines, brush, natural terrain features, barns or temporary barriers such as tarps or plywood on windward sides of shelters. In addition, rolling out hay can help provide dry, insulated ground for livestock to rest. Healthy cattle tolerate cold well when they are dry and shielded from wind. Horses benefit from run-in sheds, covered areas or barn aisles.
Reliable water access becomes one of the biggest challenges during freezes. In the Panhandle, many producers rely on tank heaters to keep water from freezing during long cold spells. Farther south in Central Texas, owners may depend on insulated buckets or make twice-daily rounds to break ice by hand. In South Texas, where freezes are shorter but still damaging, producers focus on making sure automatic waterers continue flowing through sudden cold snaps.
Source : tamu.edu