Severe Weather Plan for Cattle

Weather extremes hurt cattle fastest when they catch you unprepared. A simple written plan covers what to watch, what to do early and who handles each job.

Key points

Write a plan for each type of weather you face.
Wind and wet make cold worse; shade and water matter in heat.
Have backup water and power ready.
Protect people first, then animals.
Check cattle and fences once it is safe.

Know your local extremes

Every region has its own worst weather: blizzards, ice storms, heat, hail, tornadoes, drought or floods. List the ones you see and note what each does to cattle, feed, water and roads. Pay attention to older neighbors and local extension agents, who remember the storms that caused the worst losses. Then sort your plan by threat.

Write the plan on a page or two, in plain words, with names and phone numbers. A plan that lives only in your head does not help someone covering for you.

Cold and winter storms

Wind and wet make cold much harder on cattle than dry cold. Windbreaks, dry bedding and extra feed help animals hold condition. Ask your nutritionist about feeding changes before and during cold snaps, since energy needs rise. Make sure water stays open. Check calving schedules too, since newborn calves are most at risk. Keep supplies at hand for warming and drying calves under veterinary guidance.

Ask your nutritionist or extension specialist how to adjust feed ahead of a storm for your herd and your feed supply, rather than guessing.

Plan for calving. If a storm is forecast near calving time, move close-to-calving cows to a spot where you can watch them and shelter newborns.

Build or maintain windbreaks and shelter
Keep bedding dry and available
Have extra feed and hay stored and reachable
Make sure water does not freeze
Fuel tractors and keep chains and tools ready
Share your plan with the people who help

Heat stress and hot weather

Heat hits hard on humid days, with little night cooling, and with heavy or dark cattle. Make sure shade and plenty of clean water are available. Avoid working or moving cattle during the hottest hours, and handle them gently when you must. Watch for animals breathing hard, drooling or standing apart from the herd, and call your veterinarian if you see signs of heat stress. Ask your nutritionist about feeding times that fit hot weather.

Hot weather also affects handling decisions. If cattle must be worked, ask your veterinarian about timing and keep the process calm and quick.

Check water tanks more often in hot weather, since consumption rises and a small leak can leave cattle short.

Storms, wind and lightning

Know where your shelters are for people. In a tornado or lightning storm, human safety comes first. Secure loose items, trailers and panels that could blow around. Check tree limbs and power lines near pens. After storms, walk fences and look for downed lines before turning on any equipment or letting cattle out.

Keep tornado and lightning safety in mind for workers in the field. Have a place to go and agree on when to stop work.

Check that livestock shelters and barn roofs are sound before wind season, and repair loose metal, which can become a hazard in storms.

Water, power and communication

Weather often knocks out power, which stops pumps. Have a backup way to supply water, such as a generator or hauled water. Keep phones, radios and spare batteries ready, and agree on check-in times with family and employees. Keep a list of numbers for your veterinarian, feed supplier and neighbors.

Test your backup plan before the season starts. A generator that has not run in a year may not start in a storm.

Checking cattle and keeping people safe

Do not take risks to check animals during dangerous conditions. When it is safe, check cattle as soon as possible, look at feet, eyes and general behavior, and count. Treat injured animals as your veterinarian advises. Work in pairs when possible, tell someone where you are going and carry a phone. Follow OSHA and extension safety guidance for extreme weather.

Keep a log of each storm and how cattle fared. Over the years it shows which pastures and shelters work and where animals struggle.

Common mistakes

Acting too late, assuming cattle can handle anything, letting water freeze, not storing enough feed, working alone in storms and not having any backup power. Update the plan after every major weather event and note what worked.

Discuss the plan with everyone who helps on the ranch before the season, and make sure they know who is in charge if you are away.

When to get help: Call your veterinarian about any animals suffering from cold, heat stress or storm injury, and your nutritionist about feeding changes during extreme weather. Check with your county emergency office for local alerts.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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