| If your cattle are
raised in outdoor feedlots, a windbreak can help
reduce your feed requirements and improve your
profitability.
Windbreaks play an important role in the protection
of livestock, particularly in young animals and in
areas with cold northerly winds during the winter and
early spring. Reducing wind speed in winter
lowers animal stress, improves animal health, and
increases feeding efficiency. Livestock windbreaks
provide significant amounts of wildlife habitat,
protect the working environment in and around the
livestock area, and screen noise and odors associated
with livestock operations.
Benefits
of Livestock Windbreaks
Winter
Protection
All
warm-blooded animals must maintain their body
temperatures within a relative narrow range or comfort
zone. When air temperature falls below this range the
animal must expend energy to keep warm. As winter
approaches, many animals develop winter coats as
insulation against the cold. However, even with
a heavy coat, an animal still must expend energy to
keep itself warm, thereby reducing gains.
Increased maintenance energy requirements for
cattle at temperatures below the critical temperature.
For each degree (Fahrenheit) of cold, feed
requirements are increased.
| |
Beef Animal
Weight (lbs) |
|
440 |
660 |
880 |
1100 |
1210 |
1320 |
| Description |
Percent
Increase per degree (F) |
| Summer coat or wet |
2.3 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
| Fall coat |
1.5 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
| Winter coat |
1.2 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
| Heavy winter coat |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
Adapted from D.R. Ames, Kansas
State University.
Summer
Protection
If
a windbreak is designed properly, it can protect
livestock from cold winter winds and still allow
summer winds to circulate in the feedlot or pasture
area, reducing potential heat stress to the animals.
In the North Central region where winter protection of
livestock is most critical, northerly winds
predominate during the winter and early spring.
Locating windbreaks on the north and west sides of
livestock operations provides winter protection on the
south and east sides of the windbreak system. In
contrast, summer winds are generally southerly, and
since wind speed reductions on the windward side of
windbreaks (the side towards the wind) are limited,
livestock benefit from the southerly winds.
Snow
control
Optimum
snow control allows easy access to animals, buildings,
and forage and grain storage facilities during the
winter months. Windbreaks are an effective tool which
aid in protecting these travel lanes. A well designed
windbreak system will collect snow in low-use areas
and keep it out of high-use areas. This saves on fuel
expense, reduces wear on equipment, and saves on the
amount of labor required for snow removal and
livestock feeding.
Working
Environment
Windbreaks
improve the working environment around feedlots,
barns, and pasture areas. In the summer, windbreaks
provide shade and guide summer breezes to minimize
heat stress. In the winter, windbreaks reduce heat
loss from barns and block cold winds.
A windbreak designed to protect livestock must take
into account a number of different factors and should
be designed to meet the specific needs of the site,
the farm operation, and the land owner's preferences.
The complexity increases when additional benefits or
objectives are involved. For help in designing a
livestock windbreak or for further information on
other types of windbreaks, contact your local
Cooperative Extension office, the Soil Conservation
Service or State Forestry agency. |
