Nebraska Extension specialist shares tips for winter feedlot management
In a Dec. 1, 2025 edition of the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) BeefWatch newsletter titled “Feedlot Management Strategies to Combat Winter Weather,” Nebraska Extension Feedlot Specialist Dr. Jessica Sperber shares some best practices for winter feedlot management.
Sperber further discusses feedlot management with UNL Extension Specialist Aaron Berger during an episode of the UNL BeefWatch podcast published on Dec. 11, 2025.
Among her recommendations are providing cattle with ample and clean water, adjusting nutrition plans as needed, providing shelter and bedding and keeping up with health protocols.
Water requirements
When it comes to winter feedlot management, Sperber shares making sure water is easily accessible and free of ice should be a producer’s number one priority.
“Access to fresh, unfrozen water is crucial for feedlot cattle, as dehydration can compromise cattle health and reduce feed intake,” Sperber writes, noting the minimum water requirement of feedlot cattle during winter months is one gallon per 100 pounds of body weight.
Water is essential to cattle health in all seasons, but its direct impact on feed intake becomes even more critical during cold conditions since cattle rely on feed intake to regulate their body temperatures.
“There is a relationship between water intake and feed intake, and we want cattle to be well off nutritionally in order to weather the storm,” Sperber emphasizes.
Producers have many options for water management, from breaking ice physically to utilizing automatic waterers with insulated pipes and/or troughs, incorporating tank heaters or installing continuous flow systems.
Even tanks outfitted with technology may still require physical upkeep and should be checked daily, ideally first thing in the morning during feeding, says Sperber.
Further, she encourages producers to clear a pathway to waterers in the event of sizeable snow fall in order to minimize risk from slick conditions as cattle gather to water.
Adapting nutrition
Meeting nutritional needs is another crucial pillar of maintaining feeder cattle throughout the winter, and rations often require adjustments depending on seasonal conditions.
During winter months, Sperber explains the comfort zone for cattle with a dry coat usually lands around 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
For every one degree Fahrenheit lower, cattle typically require around one to two percent more feed intake to maintain health.
Sperber recommends supplying extra roughage to provide cattle with more fiber, which aids in generating more body heat. She also notes increasing energy-dense feeds such as grains can help animals maintain energy demands in cold weather.
Additionally, Sperber highlights the importance of storm rations when a winter storm is predicted to last for three or more days.
“Storm ration recommendations vary across feedlot nutritionists, but the general recommendation is to increase roughage in the diet by seven to 10 percent of dry matter,” writes Sperber. “Storm rations are critical when large snowfall events are predicted which can make it difficult for feedlot personnel to deliver adequate feed to the bunk.”
Providing shelter
In addition to nutrition adjustments, providing shelter like windbreaks and bedding can also help cattle maintain their energy and reduce the impacts of winter weather.
Sperber notes cold stress in cattle can be aggravated to dangerous levels by wet, windy weather.
Windbreaks help provide effective protection against cold chill in animals and can be placed strategically to shield water tanks and reduce freezing.
“Windbreaks such as trees, walls, man-made structures or strategically placed hay bales reduce wind exposure and prevent snow from drifting into the pen,” writes Sperber.
Whatever method a producer chooses to install, Sperber emphasizes the structure must be tall enough to block the wind while still allowing slight airflow between breaks. A height of seven to eight feet with airflow gaps around two or two-and-a-half inches is usually adequate, according to Sperber.
Additionally, Sperber says bedding is “one of the most underappreciated ways to improve cattle performance during the winter months” and encourages producers to offer bedding as a source of insulation once temperatures drop.
“Bedding made from straw, cornstalks or other materials keep cattle off of the cold ground, reduce heat loss and provide comfort,” Sperber writes.
Moisture increases the risk of cold stress and reduces the efficiency of feedlot cattle, according to Sperber, who cites a 2006 study from North Dakota State University which showed offering straw for steers to lay on during winter weather increased daily gain by 0.86 pounds per day and improved feed efficiency by 31 percent with no change in feed intake.
In terms of logistics, Sperber reminds producers to consider location, precipitation and animal size when deciding how much and what type of bedding to provide.
“On average, yards replace bedding every two to three days during winter months, offering anywhere from two to four pounds of bedding per animal per day, depending on the magnitude of the winter conditions,” Sperber writes.
“During extreme snowfall events, feedlots may increase the volume of bedding delivered by 10 to 15 percent,” she continues. “Heavier cattle require fresh bedding more often, as they cover a greater surface area and release more body heat compared to lighter cattle.”
Health protocols
Finally, Sperber highlights some health protocols for producers to take into consideration during winter months.
Sperber encourages producers to vaccinate cattle against common winter pathogens, emphasizing parasites thrive in wet pens and close quarters.
Additionally, she recommends double checking vaccine storage rooms and refrigerators, emphasizing the risk of technology malfunctions increases at lowered temperatures and reminding producers frozen vaccines are no longer effective and must be discarded.
She also notes lameness becomes more prominent in slick, icy conditions which accompany freeze and thaw cycles and encourages producers to monitor cattle for injuries and signs of illness including coughing, lethargy and nasal discharge throughout the winter season.
“In general, there are more physical injuries during winter months due to ice and slick conditions,” writes Sperber, who also emphasizes the importance of paying extra attention to hospital pen maintenance since sick cattle are at higher risk of impacts from the cold.
“Attention and maintenance of facilities is critical prior to the cold front moving in,” she concludes. “Preparing in advance can protect cattle’s health, minimize performance dips and ease management challenges in the yard.”
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
