As the leaves begin to change color and the temperatures get cooler, this can only mean one thing: your cattle operation is about to get a lot busier. With winter calving season right around the corner, now is the time that many ranchers begin to prepare their operations for cattle to come home from summer pastures.
While there are many different things to remember when preparing your ranch for the cold winter months, here are three critical things you should do to ensure your operation runs as efficiently and with as little stress as possible.
1. Inspect and Maintain Your Cattle Handling Equipment
Before bringing cattle home from pasture for the winter months, it’s essential to ensure that all your equipment is up to date and in good working condition. You can do this by thoroughly inspecting all your equipment, from the corral panels and cattle tubs to your squeeze chute and calving pens.
Winter can be tough on equipment, so fall is the perfect time to inspect equipment for wear and tear from frequent use. One thing that’s especially important to look for is rust. Harsh winter conditions such as snow or ice can further the rust damage on your cattle handling equipment and cost you more in repairs down the road. If the damage gets too severe, this can also cause safety risks for the operator and cattle alike. If you find rust spots, you’ll want to touch them up as soon as possible to ensure your equipment maintains its quality.
To avoid rusting or other damages from weather, consider investing in equipment that is powder coated over galvanized. The powder coat finish keeps equipment resistant to all weather conditions and effects of UV Rays. This will allow your equipment to withstand its quality for longer and increase resale value if you upgrade.
Another thing that’s important to take note of is the functionality of your equipment. You’ll want to test every moving part — especially on your calving pen and cattle chute, as these are critical pieces of equipment that will be used frequently in your operation. Checking the functionality of the head catch, squeeze, tailgates and other moving parts is essential to guarantee a smooth operation. If anything is slipping or is too difficult to move, you’ll want to perform the proper maintenance so you don’t run into issues later, and you will need to tune up your chute in the cold of winter. Maintaining your equipment now will help you avoid often costly repairs or malfunctions when your operation is in full swing.
2. Winterize Your Cattle Handling Operation
Once you’ve performed the necessary inspections on your current cattle handling equipment, it’s time to evaluate the rest of your operation to determine if it’s winter-ready. One of the first things you should think about is adding protective elements, especially in areas where cattle may not be as protected.
This includes windbreaks and shelters, which are helpful during cold, windy days. These protective elements help shield cattle from the harsh weather that can come with winter and provide them with a more comfortable environment. Having shelters throughout your operation for cattle is also critical during the calving season if your livestock are outdoors. Newborn calves are more likely to freeze their ears and tails in the cold temperatures, which can affect how much you make at sale time, so you’ll want to take every precaution to help minimize the risks.
It’s also crucial to keep all areas of your operation clean and debris-free — especially your corral systems. Before the ground freezes and snow comes, it’s key to clean out your system from buildup that may have occurred over the year. This can help keep the ground as flat as possible and help encourage proper drainage to prevent icy surfaces that could cause injury to cattle and handlers alike. By ensuring these areas remain clean and clear of obstacles, you can create a smooth, safe, winter-ready system that meets the demands of the busy season.
3. Ensure Livestock Health
One of the most important things to do when preparing for winter is to ensure your cattle’s health is as good as can be. Fall is the perfect time for herd vaccinations, parasite control, and general health checks. If you calve in the winter, the fall is also a good time to preg-check your animals, so you know what to expect when the calving season arrives and can better plan out a feeding schedule and shelter needs.
By looking for and treating any health issues with your cattle before winter, you can better prevent illnesses that are harder to treat during winter. A healthy herd will enter the colder season with more resilience, lowering the chances of them getting sick during the harsh weather conditions.
This also gives you the perfect opportunity to check your corral system’s functionality and determine whether you need to repair or upgrade your equipment. When using your equipment to perform routine procedures on the animals, think of the functionality as well. Consider how easy to use the equipment will be during the cold temperatures; look at things such as rubber grips on the handles and how easy to operate the head gate and squeeze are on your chute. It’s also crucial to consider the access that your chute gives you — especially during calving season. Sometimes, calves may be lame or not want to nurse naturally, meaning bottom access is critical on your squeeze chute. If you’ve struggled with this in the past, then it may be time to consider upgrading to a chute that offers complete access from front to back.
If you experience issues with your cattle corral system during these busy seasons, it’s important to work with a company that will provide you with fast service — such as around-the-clock Client Care, because ranching isn’t just a nine-to-five job. When handling cattle, your equipment is one of the most important pieces in your operation to keep you safe, and if your equipment is broken, the risk of injury can increase.
By preparing your ranch during the fall months, you can set yourself up for a successful winter season. Whether it’s making sure your equipment is in top condition, winterizing your cattle corral system, or checking to ensure your herd is in peak condition, these proactive steps can help reduce stress and make the harder months more manageable on your operation.
This article was published on behalf of Arrowquip.
