AMES, Iowa – With more bitterly cold days in the forecast, animal and pet owners need to be vigilant about the care they provide to outdoor animals.
While many recreational farm animals in Iowa are well-acclimated to cooler temperatures, a few basic considerations can keep animals healthy and comfortable throughout the winter months, according to Amy Powell, 4- H specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
An important part of managing the health of any animal is, first and foremost, establishing a good relationship with a veterinarian. While general resources can provide a good starting point, veterinarians can provide more specific recommendations based on an individual animal’s needs.
“It’s always important to have a relationship with a veterinarian, whether you have a cat or a pig,” Powell said.
According to Powell, another important consideration for any animal is the availability of water.
“The biggest concern to keep in mind is making sure your water doesn’t freeze,” he says. “However, sometimes animals don’t drink water that’s too hot, so it’s important to find that balance.”
“An electric water heater can be a good solution; you just want to make sure it’s not too hot or too short,” she said.
For more specific guidelines, including species-specific daily water consumption ranges, visit the ISU Extension and Outreach publication Watering Systems for Grazing Livestock.
Nutritional requirements
“Nutrition is also important when the temperature drops,” Powell continued. “At low temperatures, livestock use more energy to stay warm, so it’s important to increase the availability of nutrition, whether it’s through higher quality hay or giving them more grain, or whatever that animal eats.”
As far as exposure to the elements, many animals in Iowa are well acclimated to the cold and can tolerate low temperatures as long as they are provided with adequate water and nutrition.
“Because most animals are outside all the time, they have a thick winter coat,” Powell explained. “As long as they’re outside and used to being outside, they can survive in relatively cold temperatures.”
For additional shelter from the elements, Powell recommends providing a windbreak for grazing animals.
Youth Care
Despite these adaptations, it is important to give extra consideration for young animals, which are smaller and more susceptible to temperature damage.
“If an animal is getting ready to hatch or give birth, then you want to make sure that the birth or hatching takes place in a warm place,” he advises. “If 
Temperatures are at or below freezing, and the mother can’t clean the baby fast enough, the baby can freeze to death.”
When determining whether livestock are experiencing temperature discomfort, Powell said to observe the animal’s behavior.
“When the chicken and the pig get cold, they get together. If you see a big pile of chicken or pork, it might be too cold,” she said. “Sheep and cattle, and especially young lambs and calves, will shiver and cower if they are cold.”
“If you’re worried, you can always take their body temperature to check if they’re going into hypothermia,” he added. “If an animal is experiencing temperature discomfort, the first thing you want to do is contact your veterinarian. Then, you want to warm them up slowly. Don’t submerge them in hot water, because if you heat them up too quickly, it can lead to other issues.
Shareable photo: Goat looking over a snow-covered fence.
