Improving Cattle Comfort In Wintertime
Managing stress in the winter time can pay dividends with improved performance in the feedlot. Cattle respond to cold stress by expending more calories to maintain body temperature. There are several ways that cattle battle combat cold temperatures. One method is through internal and external insulation. External insulation is effected by hide thickness (breed and genetics) and hair coat. The temperature at which cattle begin to use additional energy to maintain body temperature is called the lower critical temperature.