Livestock
Maximizing Herd Health
Tips to Keep Your Cattle Comfortable
By Brett Van Waus
Livestock comfort plays a key role in overall productivity, impacting everything from feed efficiency to stress levels in both and operators. Producers are adopting strategies like temperature management, bedding use, pest control and strategic calving timing to optimize conditions. Experts say that reducing stress leads to healthier animals, improved reproduction rates and better financial returns.
Control the Temp
Just like humans, cattle like to remain at a comfortable temperature, and Mother Nature can often make this difficult. Keeping your animals relaxed depends on the weather and geography of your operation, but there are some general guidelines to keeping everyone cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Use Your Land
The topography of your property and geography of your area can make a huge difference when it comes to your livestock’ s comfort.
For example, if you live in an area where wind is a significant factor— particularly during the spring calving season— utilizing natural valleys can help shield them cattle from the wind.
Likewise, some operators let the natural vegetation grow in certain pastures to help stabilize the soil, giving their animals more cover from the elements.
Choose the Right Bedding
Another reason to preserve some vegetation is for bedding. During the winter months, when bedding is crucial, studies— and more importantly, experienced cattle operators— show that you lose less feed, as less food is required to provide the same energy.
“ When we put bedding out, [ the cattle ] run and buck and play,” said Kaleb Kuck, who owns and operates KEY Livestock Development and KEY Ranch along with his wife, Erin.
“ It’ s an annoying job, but when you see that, it makes you feel good.”
Fuel Your Livestock for Every Season
You are what you eat and the phrase applies to livestock as much as it does to humans. The Kucks use bales for both feed as well as wind breaks.“ It makes a huge difference on how much feed they need to stay warm,” said Erin.“ In general, we feed 10 % more when it’ s cold and 10 % less when it’ s hot.”
Both KEY Ranch and KEY Livestock Development have embraced new products introduced to the market that past generations did not have access to, like feed additives that keep livestock more comfortable.
10 | 515-574-2203 | 515-574-2189 | April 2025