Too cold to let cattle out?

kfk

Hi,
I have some dairy cows to calve in about 2 weeks. Is it too cold to let them out to grass day and night? There is plenty grass in dry paddocks so my only worry would be the cold at night!
Thanks

theroad

Cows don't mind the cold - it's wind with driving rain that causes them problems. The other problem with letting them out this time of year is how much damage they'll do to the land - you may not want that. But they'll be fine in the cold.

djmc

I have calved dairy cows out now once its not wet sleet etc there fine only be careful they dont calve outside cause while a cow will be ok in freezing tempetures a newborn calf may not.
My cows can come back into yard and shed and have some silage if they choose.

irishh_bob

if land is relativley dry and thier is a good cover of grass , i dont see why you couldnt let them out during the day , might be rushing it to let them out day and night as growth will be tiny for the next two months and you could run out very quick and you also have to consider that frost will be a problem for quite some time yet , frozen grass isnt much use

BeeDI

I let my suckler cows and calves out as soon as calf is dehorned, usually one week old. Whatever ever the weather.!!! Calf is always healthier outside. Nothing but scour problems inside.

irishh_bob

BeeDI wrote: »

I let my suckler cows and calves out as soon as calf is dehorned, usually one week old. Whatever ever the weather.!!! Calf is always healthier outside. Nothing but scour problems inside.

surely a week old calf cannot withstand cold wind and rain the month of febuary , unless its very sheltered ground ?

5live

irishh_bob wrote: »

surely a week old calf cannot withstand cold wind and rain the month of febuary , unless its very sheltered ground ?

Once a calfs stomach is full, they can withstand just about anything. As a previous post stated, wet is the killer. Cold isnt a factor in dry weather as surplus heat from fermentation will be more than adequate to keep cows warm and thriving with adequate food available. Even in heavy rain. The calf will, in most cases, find shelter in the cows shade in wind and rain but you could lose a few from exposure if the bad weather prolonged. We used calve all cows outside and there were few problems as the cows were fit not overfat and had good exercise and shade from the prevailing wind

Bizzum

irishh_bob wrote: »

surely a week old calf cannot withstand cold wind and rain the month of febuary , unless its very sheltered ground ?

We used to calve out once upon a time.
Calves born out are remarkably hardy and will find the warmest place to lie out, at the but of a hedge, or some such.
What we did do however, when we seen calves lie in a creep feeder, was to bed the feeder with straw. The calves copped on fairly quick where the comfort was. It was handy too to catch a calf that needed attention for one reason or other!