By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

IONIA, Mich. — Clean, fresh water is the No. 1 nutrient requirement of all animals, and it can also become a challenge for livestock and pet owners as winter progresses.

“This time of year it’s not necessarily the availability of water that’s a problem, but the form that it’s in. If it’s frozen, it’s a problem,” said Kevin Gould, a livestock educator with Michigan State University Extension.

Gould said it is imperative that livestock and pet owners check their animals’ water source daily to ensure it is suitable for consumption.
“Clean, accessible drinking water on a daily basis is a must,” Gould said. “If animals don’t have water, it doesn’t matter what the quality of the feed is, they can’t consume it.”

Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) State Veterinarian Dr. Steve Halstead said recent winter conditions and frigid temperatures are a reminder that animal owners must be prepared for unpredictable weather.

“Both pets and livestock are impacted by the harsh conditions during Michigan winters and their owners need to take steps to respond to inclement conditions to ensure the health and safety of their animals,” he said.

Halstead said that companion animals, particularly dogs and cats, are impacted by severe winter weather, and that animals kept indoors may have great difficulty adjusting to outdoor winter temperatures.

He said that pet owners should be cautious to provide access to water and shelter and also to protect pets from chemicals such as those used for de-icing and antifreeze.

General livestock precautions include increasing feed to provide the energy that bodies need to stay warm, providing shelter to allow animals to escape wind and heavy snow and using caution around icy areas to prevent falls and injuries.

Gould said that livestock owners should remember that the nutritional requirements of animals increase as the temperature decreases. However, he said that animals that started winter with adequate body conditioning and healthy hair coats should do all right as temperatures drop.

“Typically, animals are pretty well insulated if they are in good body condition,” Gould said.. “It’s important to have a healthy hair coat – having the animal parasite free and not having a lice problem to challenge the animal’s exterior hair coat.”

In Michigan’s climate, Gould said that moisture tends to cause more problems for livestock than cold temperatures.

“The biggest problem we have is a combination of moisture issues – freezing rain and wind are much more challenging for livestock,” Gould said. “Animals don’t have the insulation capability in their hair coat once it gets wet. When you add mud to the equation, it gets worse.”

According to Gould, shelter requirements for livestock depend on the type of animal and what phase of the production cycle the animal is in.

“As long as you provide adequate feed, a good dry bedding area and a wind break, they’ll tell you where they want to be based on their actions,” Gould said. “From a health standpoint, the least amount we can confine animals, the healthier that environment is going to be for them.”