County Critters
with Dr. Hotham
Winters in Aroostook County can present many
challenges to livestock and horses. Some of these challenges
include maintaining body weight and production.
Remember that animals require more calories in cold
weather, and forage quality here in the County is often high
in fiber and low in protein and energy. This means that
animals will require supplemental grain to meet their protein
and energy requirements. I encourage people to submit
forage samples for nutrient analysis, which is important in
formulating diets.
One should strive to have livestock and horses in
good body condition prior to winter. A horse’s ribs should
not be visible, but be able to be felt with a modest covering
of flesh. Horses deprived of protein and energy may still
have big abdomens from overeating poor quality forage, but
lose muscle along the back. Cattle should carry fat over the
hook and pin bones.
Horses with dental problems may require a senior
feed or a complete feed. All horses require annual dental
care by a veterinarian and older horses should have their
teeth floated every 6 months. Good dentition is crucial for
proper digestion and maintaining body weight.
Another tip for aiding digestion and reducing
the risk of colon impactions is ensuring adequate water
intake. Warming water to 45 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit can
greatly increase water consumption. Also, make certain that
mechanical waterers are cleaned daily.
Horses and cattle should have access to free choice
salt, and cattle should have a balanced vitamin and mineral
pack in their grain or in a carrier such as soybean meal,
which can be fed daily to ensure adequate intake. In
addition, livestock and horses require scheduled deworming
and treatment for external parasites, such as lice. Many
of you deworm your horses three to four times per year,
but probably never have had fecal samples tested for
parasites. Fecal samples should be tested in late spring and
fall to evaluate effectiveness and ensure proper treatment
recommendations. Just because you don’t see worms in
the stool, doesn’t mean your animals are parasite free. If
you only have a few horses, have your veterinarian check
fecal samples from each animal. If you have a herd, check
6 to 10 animals to evaluate the worm burden. You may
be surprised at how inadequate your deworming program
is. Furthermore, external parasites such as lice can cause
weight loss, reduced gains and decreased profitability.
In summary, large animals can tolerate cold weather
if they have adequate shelter, proper nutrition and general
health maintenance. A good relationship with a veterinarian
can prove to be a valuable asset. In fact, research has shown
a $4 return for each dollar spent on preventative veterinary
medicine.
WINTER 2010 County Critters 47