Cassie LeMaster 0:00

Batten down the hatches. Here's your winter storm prep for horses and livestock. Hey everyone. I'm your co-host, Cassie LeMaster, livestock and equine agent for Polk County, North Carolina. Welcome back to the Extension Connection Podcast. If you're listening to this in real time, you've probably seen the same forecasts I have. There's a significant winter system moving in this weekend, and snow and ice are officially on the menu. For those of us with equine and livestock, a winter storm isn't just about cozying up next to the fireplace with hot cocoa, it's about logistics, physical labor, and honestly, a little bit of anxiety. Today I want to walk you through my pre-storm checklist to help you keep your animals safe, your water flowing, and your stress levels manageable when the white stuff starts falling. Let's start with the absolute non-negotiable water in the winter. Dehydration is a silent killer. It leads to impaction colic in horses, and metabolic issues in cattle. When an animal stops drinking because the water is too cold or frozen, their digestion slows down. If you use tank heaters or heated buckets, go check them now. Don't wait for the freeze. Use a multimeter or a simple tester to make sure there's no stray voltage that's leaking into the water. If the animals feel the slightest tingle, they will not drink. If you don't have tank heaters, be sure to remove the ice from the tank each time you go out to break it. With a potential ice storm, a power outage is likely, are you prepared? If the power goes out? If you're on a well, your pump will go out too. Be sure to fill every spare muck, bucket, water trough, and even the bathtub in your house before the storm hits. I know it's a workout, but you'll thank yourself when your taps are dry. If you are on a well and can afford it, a generator to keep your well pump going and a heater on in your house is a lifesaver. Never run a generator inside a barn shed or closed space due to carbon monoxide risks. Here's a pro tip. Start adding a little loose salt or electrolytes to your animals' feed now well ahead of the storm. It encourages them to drink more. Now while water is thawed and still easy to access. If you can offer your animals lukewarm water once or twice per day to encourage them to drink, once the storm has set in. Another way to make water more enticing is to make a tea with a few alfalfa pellets or cubes added to those lukewarm buckets. Insulated tank or bucket covers can be used to keep water from freezing for longer periods. These can either be purchased, online, or you can DIY them using old horse blankets or other insulated, bubble wrap type products. All right. Next up, nutrition. Think of hay as your animal's internal furnace. The process of fermenting that fiber in the hind gut or in the rumen actually generates significant body heat for that animal. When the temperatures drop, don't throw more grain. Throw more hay. For horses and cattle, having 24 7 access to forage during a storm is the best way to keep their core temperature up. If your hay shed is a hike from the barn, move three days or more worth of flakes or round bales closer to your feeding area prior to the storm. You don't wanna be fighting a stuck tractor or slipping on ice just trying to get breakfast to your herd. Check your tarps and any roof leaks to be sure to keep your hay stash dry and free from any mold growth. Many horse owners like the benefit of providing a warm mash to their horses during tough winter weather. If you do this, be sure to avoid adding a special mash that isn't normally part of their diet. Just add warm water to their regular daily feed or their pelleted forage. More colic episodes occur because of change in routine and sudden diet changes during severe weather events than from the weather change itself. Next, let's talk shelter. Most livestock are incredibly hardy, provided that they can get out of the wind and stay dry. Check your wind breaks and your run in sheds. Clear out any old bedding and put down a fresh, deep layer of straw or wood shavings. Straw is actually a better insulator than shavings for livestock that will be staying outside. For the horse owners if your horse is clipped or if they're a senior citizen, they will likely need a blanket, but if they have a healthy winter coat and stay dry, they might be better off without one. A wet blanket is worse than no blanket at all. If you do blanket, make sure you have a spare dry one in the tack room. For animals that are brought inside, make sure there is proper ventilation, ammonia buildup, and poor airflow lead to respiratory issues. Keep those upper windows or vents cracked. Finally, let's talk about you and your equipment. You can't take care of your animals if you are sidelined equipment. Check. Do you have fuel for all of your equipment that's including your tractor, your UTVs, and your chainsaw? It's a good idea to run your equipment for 10 minutes the day before a storm just to ensure the batteries are charged and that everything starts as you want it to. Clear your gates now. If there's mud that's about to freeze, go ahead and level it out now so you don't have frozen ankle busters later. Use sand or kitty litter near the gates and that can provide traction and hopefully save you from a nasty fall. Trim back, any dead branches that hang over structures or fences prior to the storm. Go ahead and wrap or cover all outdoor faucets to prevent freezing. Disconnect your hose each time and bring it into the barn or the warm tack room to prevent a clogged frozen hose when you need to use it. Headlamps are a lifesaver for night checks, especially if we don't have power. Make sure your equine and livestock first aid kit is stocked specifically with banamine as digestive upsets are common during pressure changes. Farming is tough, and winter farming is a whole different level of grit. But remember, your animals are built for this, and as long as they have hay, wind protection and liquid water, they're going to be just fine. Stay warm, stay safe, and don't forget to check on your neighbors. Thanks again for joining us on the Extension Connection Podcast.