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When the temperature drops, your animals feel the effects just as much as you do. Winter can be a challenging season for farmers and livestock owners — not just because of the cold, but because of the extra care animals need to stay healthy and productive. With a few smart management steps, you can help prevent stress, illness, and weight loss throughout the season. 1. Recognize Signs of Cold-Weather Stress Animals under cold stress often eat more but still lose weight, shiver, or become lethargic. Horses may stand hunched with their tails tucked, while cattle or goats might huddle closely...

Like all living things, chickens need water to thrive. But keeping your hens hydrated in winter can be a challenge when temperatures plummet. Consider these tips to keep the fluids flowing, even in the coldest climates. Above all, make sure your girls always have access to water that is fresh, clean and unfrozen. Why Water Matters Granted, chickens don’t drink as much water in winter. But abundant liquid water is essential for a variety of reasons. First is egg production. Lack of water…even for just a matter of hours…can throw off egg laying, which may already be comprised due to...

As temperatures drop and winter approaches, proper nutrition becomes more important than ever for your animals. Cold weather increases energy demands, affects digestion, and can challenge immune systems, making feeding strategies a critical part of winter care. Whether you’re caring for horses, livestock, or poultry, thoughtful planning now can keep your animals healthy, comfortable, and productive throughout the season. 1. Adjust Energy Intake for Cold Stress Animals burn more calories to maintain body temperature in colder weather. Horses, cattle, and other livestock may need additional energy in the form of high-quality forage or supplemental grains. Monitor body condition and adjust...

By Jennifer Murtoff, Home to Roost, LLC Bedding (or litter) is an important factor in the life of your chickens; after all, they’ll spend most of their lives walking on it! What characteristics are important in choosing bedding, and which kinds of bedding work best? Understanding the Importance of Chicken Bedding: Essential Insights First, let’s look at why bedding is important for your chickens. Litter helps absorb moisture from droppings, reducing odors. Chickens scratch in the bedding, turning the droppings under it and helping to keep the coop clean. In cold climates, loose bedding traps heat and insulates the floor....

Pre- and probiotics are considered “functional ingredients” that are added to horse feed to provide benefits to your horse. The environment of the intestine (a.k.a. gut) contains naturally occurring beneficial microorganisms commonly called ‘bugs’. Gut bugs are found in all species, including humans, and are essential to the digestion process. For the horse, gut bugs work to break down components of forage and feed as they pass through the digestive tract. The bugs deconstruct complex molecules within feedstuffs, which releases nutrients and allows the synthesis of energy substrates and important vitamins. Those nutrients are then absorbed through the intestines into...