Storm in the swamp

[Old Cowzilla]

Nothing more fun than laying on your back on frozen cow turds replacing a burnt element while the rest in the pen stand around waiting on you to get it going.

[TOM4CWB]

The wild ruminants and our sheep are bred in fall and are building babies through winter without liquid water. That’s why I asked about cattle, because the sheep maintain condition just fine. We’ve had horses for twenty four years and they have never had winter water.

I have read a lot of studies done on winter watering for livestock and most say it’s fine, but not lots of people do it in practice.

Haha, even a few pigs we over wintered last year, stopped drinking water suddenly one day. Bang, and they quit. I was worried about them. I would a carry them water, and they refused it. I thought there was something wrong with them. I finally gave up because it’s no point to carry water two hundred yards, and have it never consumed.

Those hogs grew all through winter, and never needed any liquid water. It was their choice, not mine. I never would have believed it…

You were feeding them well!!!

[jazz]

Geese finally hightailed it out of here today. They sure hung around a long time.

[WiltonRanch]

My cows pick snow with no problems whatsoever. Dad and his dad before would cut holes in the ice, bail water out of the well, or melt snow, and to think all that stupid work was in vain as the cows could’ve ate snow. If cows are walking any kind of distance to water how much energy are they burning and extra feed does it take versus them eating snow where they stand? Yet to see a study which definitively says snow is less adequate than water.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

My cows pick snow with no problems whatsoever. Dad and his dad before would cut holes in the ice, bail water out of the well, or melt snow, and to think all that stupid work was in vain as the cows could’ve ate snow. If cows are walking any kind of distance to water how much energy are they burning and extra feed does it take versus them eating snow where they stand? Yet to see a study which definitively says snow is less adequate than water.

Studies I've seen don't indicate any difference in performance. It makes sense that it takes energy to melt the snow.

Some cows never come up for water all winter, while some will break down the door if the waterer freezes up.

I am feeding them about 1/4 mile walk to the waterer. Cold and slightly breezy today, saw a few come up to the waterer, most weren't actually not even my cows, but a neighbors cows. Saw many of them walk a few feet from the feeders and go eat snow.

When we did swath grazing, they must get enough snow while eating, none came for water.

In the winter, I have to keep the salt box where I feed, otherwise many cows never get any salt/mineral/vitamins since they don't go to the waterer.

Our have gone without water a few winters. I'm certain Grandpa's cow herd had to eat snow all winter. But I think he did have to keep the tank heater going for the animals at the barn.

Of course, some cows will walk a half mile to a stock waterer, then drink out of a mud puddle 10 feet away from it.