By Dante DiGiovanni @ Shutterstock.com
In Organic Valley’s Roostock, Jennifer McBride explains that cows don’t get too cold in a normal winter because “An adult cow has a furnace inside.” She writes:
Organic Valley farmer Gene Mohs of Minnesota may have to throw on an extra layer of clothing when he heads out the door on cold Minnesota mornings, but chances are his cows are content.
At what temperature do cows get cold? Believe it or not, cows prefer it cool — they are built for this! The ideal temperature range for dairy cattle is 25 to 65 F, according to the University of Missouri Extension. Even at temperatures of just 68 F cattle can start to feel heat stress. When temperatures dip below zero, yes, cows may get cold but Organic Valley farmers take special precautions to keep cows cozy.
How do cows stay warm? One reason cows prefer it cooler is because of all that is going on internally.
“An adult cow has a furnace inside,” said Dr. Meggan Hain, Organic Valley veterinarian. She is speaking of food that is fermenting in the rumen (the first compartment of a cow’s stomach). As the rumen breaks down forage, digestion releases gas that keeps the animal warm.
Cows also acclimate to poor conditions. In the winter, cows’ thick skin and hair is a natural insulator, like a heavy winter coat, that protects them from the bitter cold. A cow’s hair grows longer and thicker during winter weather. When it snows, the hair coat catches the snow and forms a layer that creates an air pocket between the snow and the cow’s skin. The pocket is then warmed by the cow’s core body temperature of about 101 to 102 F.
Read more here.
If you’re willing to fight for Main Street America, click here to sign up for my free weekly email.
