Although temperatures may not be consistently below freezing yet, mid-to-late fall is a great time to start planning for winter. Here are 3 topics we recommend thinking about to get ready for frigid temperatures:

 

1. Monitor Body Condition Scores (BCS)

With nutrient requirements at their lowest point in the production cycle after weaning calves, now is the time to add body condition to thin, spring calving cows. Fall is also a good time to add BCS before cows have the added maintenance requirements to maintain body temperatures during cold stress this winter. As a rule of thumb, cows should calve at a BCS of 5.5-6 and heifers 6-6.5. Any cows or heifers at least 1 BCS under these ranges can greatly benefit from extra supplementation through the fall. They will be able to better maintain their body temperature through cold stress and are more likely to breed back promptly.

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2. Strategic Deworming

Since worm eggs require a warm, moist environment to hatch and for larvae to move up grass to be ingested, it is unlikely that cattle will be picking up worms through the winter months. This makes the first hard freeze a great opportunity to clean up worms that cows have ingested over the spring and summer. This practice will help to reduce the worm load on pastures next spring! When thinking about fall strategic deworming, just remember to treat at 28.

 

3.  Prussic Acid poisoning

Another thing to consider around the first hard freeze is the risk of prussic acid poisoning for cattle grazing Sorghum and Sudan varieties. Stress from a killing frost causes a release of cyanide into the foliage of plants as they wilt and die. As a rule of thumb, plan to pull cattle from grazing these situations when frost is likely and keep them off for at least 5-7 days to allow the cyanide gas to dissipate as the foliage dries. Also, avoid grazing regrowth of these plant species until they are at least 18-24 inches tall, as regrowth poses a threat of prussic acid poisoning as well.