MANAGEMENT OF LIVESTOCK  DURING WINTERS

MANAGEMENT OF LIVESTOCK  DURING WINTERS

(¹Adarsh Bhambri,² Priyanka Syal,³ Gurjot Singh &⁴Vikrant Sudan)

 ¹4^th professional year student BVSc. & A.H, College Of Veterinary Science, Rampura Phul

  ²Assistant Professor Dept. of Veterinary Pathology College Of Veterinary Science, Rampura          Phul

³MVSc Scholar Animal Nutrition, COVS GADVASU, Ludhiana

  ⁴ Associate Professor Veterinary Parasitology College Of Veterinary Science, Rampura Phul

*Email: dradarshbhambri@gmail.com (Corresponding Author)

Abstract

With the arrival of month of November, India starts witnessing winter season. Farmers never get to take an off from caring of their livestock in these harsh winters. Animal handlers are required to be prepared every time when so ever thermometer takes nosedive.

Handlers must take care of dairy animals by helping them to get acclimatize with the surrounding temperature with the surrounding temperature in order to keep animals healthy because decreasing milk yield is one of the major concern and predominantly occurs in the winter months of the year which may lead to economical loss to the farmers. Not only decreasing mil yield but also various other ill management practices can affect animals health and hamper the farmers life with stress and increasing issues that must be worked on for better functioning of his/her farm.

Keywords

Body temperature, Stress, Productivity, Livestock,

Introduction

The major factor which comes in existence is that during winter’s animals require more energy in order to produce more heat and maintaining basal body temperature. Physiological and behavioural means is the major key factor to adapt towards the climatic changes.  The normal maintained body temperature in case of cattle is 101℉. Maintaining body temperature in winters is quite difficult and challenging for animals and even lead to cold stress in some of the dairy animals.

What is cold Stress????

When temperatures start to decline in winter, it is time to think about what effect this is having on cow productivity and efficiency.

Like all mammals, cows are warm blooded and need to maintain a constant core body temperature. Normal rectal temperature for a cow is around 38°C (101°F).

Within a range of environmental temperatures called the “thermoneutral zone,” animals do not have to expend any extra energy to maintain their body temperature. At the lower end of this range, normal metabolic processes supply enough heat to maintain body core temperature. Within their thermoneutral zone, animals may modify their behaviour, such as seeking shelter from wind, and respond over the long term by growing a thick hair coat for winter, without affecting their nutrient requirements. However, below the lower limit of the thermoneutral zone, in the “lower critical temperature,” the animal experiences cold stress.

During winters in order to cope up the temperature animals overcome this challenge by increase in heart rate, respiration rate which leads to increase in blood flow helping them to survive in the harsh cold conditions.

Even more feeding requirements are to be accomplished in order to maintain their body temperature and milk production. According to basic thumb rule milch animal should be provided with 20% more feed then its normal uptake. It’s being noticed that a drastic change in milk production is witnessed due to decrease in temperature as increased fraction of energy is utilised by animals for maintenance of body temperature.

MEASURES TO BE TAKEN AGAINST COLD STRESS

Various measures can be taken by animal handlers for better and easy life of the animals during the winter months of the year. These measures if adopted decreases cold stress and helps to maintain basal body temperature of the animal for better survival rate.

Certain measures are as follows:

1. Regarding shelter

• Keeping dairy animals in cowsheds can minimize the impact of environmental temperature fluctuation.
• A special care and protection is to be provided to the animals that are kept in open housing system by the animal handlers.
• Comfortable micro-environment also helps animal to combat with cold stress and worst climatic conditions.
• Cold winds in cowsheds can be obstructed by using curtains which can be prepared by using bamboos, dry grass, paddy, straw, polythene etc.
• Blankets are the most useful aid in case of calves less than 3 years of age. Blankets must be not so hot as using such a hot material blankets can lead to skin burns or swellings.
• Saw dust, dry straw can also be used as bedding material for the animals.
• Avoiding wind drafts can reduce the heat loss.
• For better source of sunlight, handlers must drop the extra branches of tress to let the animal have more access to sunlight for warmness and natural disinfection of the shelter.
• Open paddocks should be kept for direct sun exposure for animals.

2. MEASURED REGARDING FEED MANAGEMENT

• During cold months many animals switch to the phase of inappetance and refuse to eat which majorly affects the milk production, health and reproduction of the animals
• Animals must be fed on extra calorie-rich feed.
• Balanced rations which is fortified and supplemented with protein ingredients like whole cotton seeds or cake should be fed to the animals
• Ration with 17% fibre in feed is also considered suitable during this season to beat cold stress
• Animal handlers must provide ration compromising:-
• Grains – 40%
• Oil cakes – 32%
• Brans – 25%
• Mineral mixture – 2%
• Common salt NaCl – 1%
• Dry matter intake of the animal must be increased which will raise heat production.
• Lukewarm water should be provided for drinking purposes.
• Hay can be fed as it provides more heat during digestion than concentrate feed.

GENERAL POINTS OF CONSIDERATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF LIVESTOCK DURING WINTER SEASON

• Do not sheer wool or cut the hair of the animals during winter season.
• Hooves of animals should be properly and regularly trimmed to avoid foot rot as it is one of the common condition during winters
• Animals which are not vaccinated against FMD, HS, Black Quarter must ensure it is done.
• Repeated changes in calf’s diet must be avoided
• Avoid frost formation on floors as it gives slippery and greasy appearance and can harm animals.
• Calves less than 3 weeks of age must be fed with increased amount of milk or milk replacer to provide extra energy.
• Provision of warm water 3 times per day for minimum of 30 minutes each time in order to ensure that calves have ample opportunity to dink water

CONCLUSION(S)

Within the thermoneutral zone it has been recorded that animals must shows optimum performance in their production and reproductive trait. Conditions below lower critical temperature leads to animal’s performance compromised. Therefore it is essential to cope up with the cold stress and to focus to get inclined towards the proper nutrition, shelter, watering, health and welfare of the animals.

MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE DURING WINTER

Please follow and like us: