Prepare Your Dairy for Extreme Winter Stress

As winter draws near, we know all too well the challenges that sub-zero temperatures bring. Not only do our cows face stress, but so do the hardworking teams who care for them. Planning for these extreme conditions is key to maintaining cow health and ensuring worker safety and productivity.

Caloric Needs in Cold Weather

During bitterly cold months, cows need more calories to keep up their body heat and maintain milk production. A sudden drop in temperature can have an immediate effect on energy needs, it may be necessary to adjust milk cow and dry cow diets accordingly. Monitoring body condition closely and increasing energy is a simple but critical step to help cows perform at their best as winter progresses.

Keeping Cows and Workers Safe

Winter means icy flooring and slick surfaces that can lead to injuries for both cows and employees. Now is the time to plan that your inventory of sand, salt, or other aggregates is stocked and ready for use. Safe footing in alleyways, holding pens, and walkways are essential to prevent slips, splits and falls for cows or injuries for workers.

Employee Training

Ahead of the season, training employees to manage winter conditions is crucial. Hold a refresher course on recognizing cold-related cow health issues such as frostbite in calves or cold stress. Prepare your team to handle common issues, like keeping waterers from freezing and curtains are functioning properly. And be sure to review who is in charge of snow-removal protocols and make sure everyone knows how to manage the barn and parlor environments in frigid and quickly fluctuating conditions.

Parlor Preparedness

Cold weather can wreak havoc in the parlor if you’re not prepared. Before the freezing temperatures hit, take the time to check ventilation systems. Proper airflow is essential for keeping moisture as minimal as possible and maintaining a stable environment. Ensure chemicals and dip solutions are stored in a place where they won’t freeze. This simple step can prevent delays and breakdowns that slow things down and ultimately hurt cow comfort.

Patience and Teamwork

Extreme cold stretches both people and resources. Things take longer to accomplish, and patience may wear thin. Remember to step back and pull together as a team. When everyone knows their role and understands the challenges, it’s easier to get through the toughest days. After all, caring for cows is a team effort, especially when conditions are harsh.

Tractor, Payloader and Skid Loader Preparedness

Cold temps can cause significant equipment issues. It always seems that things break or go down at the coldest times possible. Before winter hits, make sure all equipment is winter-ready. Use anti-gel and switch to a winter-grade fuel that handles low temperatures more effectively. Whenever possible, store tractors, payloaders and skid loaders in a warm or sheltered area to keep engines in better condition and prevent the hassle of cold starts. If indoor storage isn’t available, at least park them out of the wind to minimize exposure to the elements and have the block heaters ready to go. Regular maintenance checks on batteries, heaters, and fuel systems can prevent frustrating delays and keep your operation running smoothly, even when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Enhancing Cow Comfort – FutureCow Teat Prep Solution Warmer

One often-overlooked area during winter is teat preparation. That’s where FutureCow’s teat prep solution warmer comes in. Adding this tool to your teat scrubber system provides an extra layer of comfort for your cows. Cold chlorine dioxide coming in contact with teats can be a shock, but when warmed to a soothing 80 to 90 degrees, it creates a more pleasant sensation during subzero temps. This not only enhances cow comfort, but it also improves milk stimulation, encourages faster let-downs, and reduces unit on-time – all key factors in boosting efficiency and productivity. And many users of teat solution warmers experience these benefits year-round by using the warmer during summer months to maintain a consistent level of cow comfort.

As winter approaches, let’s remember to be proactive. The more we prepare now, the better equipped we’ll be to handle whatever winter throws at us. They say we spend all summer getting ready for winter, and all winter getting ready for summer!