How Winter Temperatures Reduce Steady Milk and Poultry Production: A Look at Agricultural Procedures and Steps Farmers Take to Maintain Livestock Health and Safety During Colder Months

Making Udderly Delicious Milk In a Cold Environment and Proper Cattle Care

In the process of making Udderly Delicious milk, safe environmental conditions play a significant role in the production of fresh milk that is enough to supply distributors and meet the demand of thirsty customers, who depend on a subscription to have farm fresh milk delivered routinely. The weather is just one of many things farmers count on to ensure quality agricultural production, and when winter strikes, production is affected. Bitterly freezing temperatures and snowfall can reduce the overall average quantity of milk in a given day. Dairy cows produce an average of 6-7 gallons of milk daily. Because the water they drink is too cold, cows are reluctant to eat and drink- meaning there is not enough fat accumulated for them to produce milk. Water between 40-65 degrees is what cows prefer, and they drink an average of 3-5 gallons of water per minute- that’s more than the recommended glasses of water humans consume in a day! 

On the farm it is important that farmers and ranchers install tank heaters to prevent water from freezing, and place the heater in troughs or buckets. Heaters circulate warm water, preventing freezing. It is also a form of proper care when cattle are kept inside a barn with a secure roof, to prevent contact with snow and rainfall. 

Less Sunlight Has an Impact on Agriculture Production

Winter causes a decline in agricultural production because of fewer hours of direct sunlight on the earth’s surface, which leads to a sharp drop in temperatures. Warmer temperatures in the spring and summer provide livestock with more nutrients and natural sunlight that increases the nutritional value of the feed they eat to produce dairy, meat and poultry. For Holstein cows, this is grass. Grass is also known as pastures in the agriculture industry, and pastures grow at their peak during the warmer season, leaving more food for the cows to have the energy they need. Chickens, much like cows, rely on warm temperatures to lay quality eggs. In the winter, chickens lay 1-2 eggs, but in the summertime when the air is warm, most chickens lay 10-12 eggs. 

Cows are Cold Tolerant

When it is cold, cows divert their energy into maintaining a healthy body temperature instead of steady, continuous lactation. While cows still produce milk in the winter they do not produce nearly as much as they do during peak production season, which is in the spring when pastures grow quickly and appear a bold and lush green color. The ultimate protector of cows during the winter though, is a dry coat. Feed intake during the winter is something to consider, and forage should always be dry. In the winter, it is common for farmers to feed cattle more so the cows receive higher amounts of energy through diet.  During the winter, cows should be fed corn, and cool season crops such as turnips, radishes, oats, and wheat. 

Staying Productive in Quiet Times: How Farmers Keep Busy and Hopeful During the Winter

Currently in Schuylerville, New York, where Udderly Delicious Milk is made at King Brothers Dairy, it is 25 degrees and mostly cloudy. While milk is still being made, overall production from cattle will steadily increase in the month of March, the start of the spring equinox.

There are many ways in which farmers and other agriculture workers can maintain steady and effective operations in the winter. The winter has such an affect on agricultural production and the essential daily operations on the farm, and there are consequences that come with a lack of proper procedures or care for livestock. A decline in dairy production can cause financial hardships and a slow growth in business. To prevent issues from arising on and off the farm, farmers can stay busy by harvesting winter crops, focusing on maintenance and equipment repairs, livestock care, engaging with other industry professionals through workshops, and looking ahead to the new season and setting goals for an abundant production cycle.