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Rain And Mud, Then Even More Mud
DR. TERESA L. STECKLER
SIMPSON, ILL.
I was listening to the radio about 2018 rainfall amounts. Paducah, Evansville, and Cape Girardeau all finished in the top 10 wettest years on record! Just this weekend, the creeks and bottom grounds were flooded. Suffice to say there is a copious amount of water resulting in very muddy conditions. The lack of frozen ground is also affecting your ability to feed your livestock, livestock movement, and possibly pasture health. To say the least, the mud is a very frustrating challenge for cattlemen and cattle alike!
Many cattlemen feed their cattle in pastures. Cattle walking on muddy pastures will damage forages due to their hooves. Trampling creates muddy pastures with less available forage for grazing. Pasture damage will be worse in areas where cattle congregate near water and feeding areas. When feeding hay, start towards the back of the pasture and work towards the front to keep mud from blocking pasture access.
Keep in mind that pasture damage expands to new areas every time hay or feeding areas are moved. High stocking rates will result in increased pasture damage and will occur in a relatively short period of time. Although pasture damage is largely unavoidable during very wet periods, use of feeding pads, lanes for moving cattle, rotational grazing methods, and lower stocking rates can help limit this damage.
Calving has begun for spring calving herds. The rains and mud make it very important to monitor calving herds for calves being born in mud holes or pools of water; calves can become trapped in mud. If temperatures drop during wet conditions, calves are at increased risk for hypothermia. Providing calving areas that are relatively dry, free from manure build-up, and with wind breaks will be necessary. Close observation of cattle is critical to identify these situations.
Although the warmer temperatures are not too concerning, mud can also reduce the insulating ability of the hair coat. The relationship between mud and its effect on energy requirements is not as well defined, but depending upon the depth of the mud and how much matting of the hair coat it causes, energy requirements could increase 7 - 30 percent over dry conditions. In addition, there is research that suggesting mud may also be associated with decreased feed intake
Muddy areas with heavy manure concentrations often have heavy loads of disease-causing organisms such as bacteria. Instances of calf scours, naval ill, and foot rot can be increased during these conditions. Consult a veterinarian for advice on disease prevention and treatment. Be sure to treat calf navals at birth with an iodine solution and watch closely for signs of infection. Treat all sick calves promptly.
Excessive rainfall and muddy conditions can impact cattle nutrition. While you trudge through the mud, keep in mind that the energy requirement for cattle to also trudge through the mud will be increased. Feedlot cattle in mud that is only dew claw deep can decrease animal performance by as much as 7 percent.The added energy needed results in less going to weight gain and performance. University of Nebraska published “Mud Effects on Feedlot Cattle” in 2011. This piece authored by Terry Mader, built a model and simulated conditions based on actual cattle feeding studies. The model showed under cold (16°F) and wet (6 in. rainfall for 120-day feeding period) conditions cost-of-gain was 56.1 percent higher than 26°F and no precipitation.
Now consider a third stage cow. Her nutritional demands are much higher due to a rapidly growing calf. If adjustments are not made for her nutritional requirements based on stage of performance, environment, and feedstuff quality, she will calve in poor body condition, will not rebreed on time, and calves will not meet weight gain targets.
Mud can affect feeding behavior as well. Muddy areas create a suction effect on the legs and hooves of cattle. This makes it hard for cattle to move around feeders, and they stand still instead. Four to 8 inches of mud can decrease intake by 4 to 8 percent and slow gains by 14 percent. Belly-deep mud can reduce intake by 30 percent. Also consider those younger, smaller cows trying to move their way to the feed bunk or hay ring – those older boss cows may prevent them accessing the feedstuffs. It is extremely important to control mud accumulation so that it does not affect feeding behavior.
It may also be tempting to skip feedings during rainy days or because of challenges with muddy feed storage and feeding areas. For cattle on limit-fed rations, where they are hand fed daily, skipping feedings could lead to digestive upset when feeds are reintroduced to cattle. Skipped feedings also mean less total intake of these rations over time, which will lower performance.
Numerous factors will influence voluntary forage intake, cows may consume as little as 2.5 percent of their body weight as hay during mild conditions but may need up to 3.5 percent during severe cold. An important rule of thumb: increase the amount of feed (energy source) by one percent for each two degrees F of cold stress. For thin cows with poor hair coats, or in wet conditions (wet hair coat) figure a 1 percent increase for each degree of temperature drop. A wet storm is worse than dry cold. Wet hair loses insulating quality; the cow will chill sooner. When hair coat is wet, the critical temperature is about 59° F.
Cattle need protection from the wind, especially during periods of bitterly cold temperatures and severe wind chill – exactly what we have been experiencing. Wind speed produces wind chill, which can further increase energy requirements for livestock. Cows who have lost weight or who are losing weight are very susceptible to cold or wet weather stress.
It is important to monitor your cattle closely during these very stressful periods. Keep track of body condition as you winter your cows and provide them with highly digestible feeds that will provide their energy needs during the cold, snow, mud, wind, etc. ∆
DR. TERESA L. STECKLER: Extension Specialist, Animal Systems/Beef, Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, University of Illinois
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