Being too cold can increase an animal’s nutrient needs at the same time as lowering the amount of food they’re consuming. Couple that with the increased energy needed to maintain basic body temperature, these opposing numbers can have a very negative impact on gut health and production.
Shelter
Protecting your animals from the elements during winter and promoting better pasture growth is important not only for them but also for yourself. You will save your pastures from damage caused by pugging and keep your herd warm and fed. Other benefits include being able to set and control your own feed levels and monitor and maintain their health.
Windbreaks
Wind chill can be a big winter issue for cattle in colder climates. Planning ahead for bad weather can save money, reduce illness and preserve animal gains. If they do not have adequate shelter from the wind, windbreaks are a great solution to take away the stress this can cause your animals and reduce the chance of sickness.
Feed and Nutrients
The energy your animal needs to consume to maintain body weight and production demands can go up by as much as 40% during extremely cold weather. As they eat more they need to also drink more water.
Feeding on a feed pad or in a wintering shed are the most effective ways to minimise wastage of supplements and simultaneously help prevent paddock damage, preparing you for spring and summer.
Fresh dry bedding
Animal bedding is used by animals to support their bodies when resting or otherwise stationary. It reduces pressure on skin, heat loss, and contamination by waste produced by an animal or those it shares living space with.
The importance of animal bedding:
- Used as a flooring material
- Comfort to animal
- Encourages resting
- Contribute to udder health
- Contributes to milk quantity & quality
- Minimizes injury and fatigue
We supply farmers across the South Island with a range of animal bedding solutions to provide more warmth and less stress.
With so many products on the market, it can be hard to choose the right animal bedding for your farm. We know you want the best for your animals to ensure their health during winter, so we decided to make it easy for you to match up each of our animal bedding products with their best uses.
Once we understand your and your animal’s needs, we can offer a solution and send samples and information on product volumes, pricing and freight options. If you prefer, we also let you organise your own freight. To get started on choosing the right animal bedding for your animals, get in contact!
