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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...

As the vibrant colors of fall give way to colder days, gardeners know it’s time to shift gears. While summer and fall harvests may be winding down, the work you do in your garden now can set the stage for a healthier, more productive season next spring. Preparing your soil and caring for your plants before winter ensures that your garden rests well and is ready to flourish when warmer weather returns. Here are some practical tips to help transition your garden from fall into winter. 1. Clean Up Spent Plants Once your garden has finished producing, remove dead or...

Cattle need only minimal shelter. During calving it is nice to have a place where the cow and newborn calf can get out of the elements for a day or two. It is good to have a place where they can find shade in hot weather and wind break from the cold. A corral or dry lot must be available to keep the animals in when irrigating and when the pasture needs a rest from grazing. Good fences are important to ensure safety and good relation-ships with neighbors. Electric fences are useful for managing your pasture and should be sufficiently...