Moments ago, rain was bouncing knee height off the ground but shortly it’ll be blue sky and fluffy white clouds again. Welcome to Scotland – if you don’t like the weather, wait an hour! Throughout the UK and beyond, weather governs farming in every sense, and the already changeable UK weather is predicted to become more intense in future years, with frequent weather extremes.
Changing weather patterns
By 2070, it is expected that UK winters will be up to 4.5C warmer and 30% wetter, with summers becoming up to 6C hotter and 60% drier. This will affect all areas of farming, including soil health, crops, grazing, buildings, feed prices, livestock health, disease patterns, productivity, and farm safety.
To meet changing weather patterns, we must adapt our farming strategies. Some changes require serious financial investment while others take years of time. AHDB’s Climate Change Adaptation Report identifies high, medium and low-priority risks, opportunities and actions to consider. These are farm specific and part of medium to long term planning for your holding. In the short term, however, there is still much that can be done to improve weather resilience on your holding over the coming months and seasons.
Coping with weather extremes
All livestock have increased energy requirements when dealing with extreme weather, but healthy adults cope more readily than those that are poorly or young. Native breed sheep and cattle tend to cope best with the cold, while pigs can be particularly susceptible to heat stress. Dairy calves, for example, use extra energy to keep warm at temperatures below 10-15°C and may show signs of heat stress above 25°C, so the sweet spot is relatively small.
During extreme weather, livestock require access to:
- Shelter – from cold or heat, persistent rain and wind.
- Additional nutrition – of sufficient quality and quantity that is readily accessible.
- Drinking water – fresh and in sufficient and constant supply.
These requirements are provided for by …
- Livestock keepers – who themselves have the same basic needs! You’re no use to your livestock if you’re up to your neck in a snow drift, crumpled on the ice or collapsed with heat stroke, and you have a duty to consider the safety of your team, including employees, family members and working dogs too.
Shelter
Whether providing warmth, shade or wind/rain protection, shelter can take many forms. Consider what you already have and how much you need – is there enough available for the whole group to shelter at the same time? On many holdings, a combination of provisions will be required.
Be it natural dips and hollows on hilly ground, or hedgerows and trees around fields, availability of natural shelter is very farm specific. Take some time planning how best to use what you already have, for example preserving sheltered fields for young animals or use at birthing times. Note potential hazards too, e.g. oak trees providing great summer shade may shed large quantities of potentially toxic acorns during autumn storms.
Additional shelter may be provided with:
- Bales, used as windbreaks or with sheeting over the top to offer shade or rain protection. This must be securely assembled and maintained, especially if there is wind or heavy snow.
- Mobile shelters such as pig arcs or calf hutches are useful for smaller livestock and can be moved around to avoid poaching wet ground.
- Larger, more permanent field shelters or polytunnels can be built but may require planning consent
Existing buildings may be useful in cold or wet weather but also in the heat if they are appropriately insulated, ventilated, and maintained. In all conditions, aim for good airflow without draughts at animal level and avoid humidity by checking regularly for leaks or overflowing water sources.
Fans may be required to increase airflow during hot weather while draughts in any conditions can be blocked using bales, timber or plastic sheeting, or even by stapling feed bags across wooden boarding.
Sufficient dry bedding is required during housing and may be beneficial in field shelters during cold weather too. Calculate requirements ahead of time, bearing in mind that additional bedding may be required during wet weather and flooding. At times, the availability of straw may be low, so consider alternative bedding materials.
Individual animals may be sheltered using protective “clothing”. The bull doesn’t need a bobble hat but in lower temperatures calf jackets or lamb coats can help to retain heat and waterproof lamb macs can make all the difference in persistent wind and rain, especially when adequate shelter isn’t available.
Nutrition
Energy requirements increase during extremes of temperature (both hot and cold), as well as prolonged rain and wind. At the same time, access to and availability of quality nutrition may be compromised.
During times of heat stress feed intakes will fall naturally but then so will production (milk yield, growth, fertility). Ensuring food is readily available during the cooler times of day, with sufficient trough/feeder space for all animals, can help encourage adequate intakes.
In cold or wet weather, without additional nutrition, adult animals may lose condition as they mobilise their own reserves to make up the energy deficit. This can negatively affect growth and fertility. In lactating (milk producing) animals, milk yields will then fall, and suckling youngstock may become dehydrated (in any weather) or unable to keep warm.
Start by planning what you expect to need and surveying what you already have. Forage analysis can give important information on quality when planning feeding, but these winter stores may be required early, for example using bales during summer droughts or flooding where grazing is not available.
If feed availability is restricted, particularly during extreme weather, consider whether you are carrying any unproductive passengers in the flock/herd. Removing barren cows/ewes and chronic poor doers from the group will preserve resources for others.
Water
Dairy cows require over 120 litres of drinking water daily; beef cows 40-70 litres; and ewes, more than 7 litres daily. These requirements increase during hot weather and illness, so it is essential to ensure sufficient access and provision of adequate fresh water to all livestock. Extra buckets/troughs may be required, and supply flow rates should be checked to ensure rapid refilling of automatic troughs.
Maintaining access to fresh water can be challenging in very cold conditions as pipes and troughs quickly freeze. In cold weather;
- Use rubber (rather than metal/plastic) buckets and position each inside a rubber tyre to delay freezing.
- Group buckets together. Position water troughs in sheltered or sunlit areas to reduce freezing.
- In automated troughs, consider lowering the flow rate to encourage constant movement and discourage freezing, but be careful to ensure enough availability.
- Insulate exposed pipes.
- Use a float – a plastic bottle filled with salt water can be an inexpensive but effective option to deter freezing.
- Check water sources regularly. If they become frozen, break the ice but also remove as much of it as possible to prevent rapid refreezing.
- Be vigilant for leaking water supplies or burst pipes making indoor environments damp.
In any conditions, consider back-up options such as a water bowser if the main water supply fails. Flooding may lead to contamination of water courses or supplies. Discourage animals from drinking flood water by providing an alternative fresh source. Drinking water for livestock must be clean and fresh. Algae grows rapidly in warm conditions and will deter animals from drinking.
The farm team
Caring for livestock in extreme conditions can be hazardous, physically exhausting, and mentally draining, so caring for the farm team is vital too.
- Ensure workers are equipped with protective clothing appropriate for the weather and work.
- Provide suitable warm/cool, dry spaces in which to rest and encourage regular short breaks throughout the day.
- Maintain regular contact with all workers, ensuring phones are charged frequently, especially during cold weather.
- Additional maintenance of equipment and vehicles may be required during extreme weather conditions.
- Review safe practices according to the season – e.g. in cold weather plan for gritting access routes and review safe working in icy conditions, be clear about fire safety in hot weather, and assess flood risks ahead of heavy rainfall.
- Include an animal evacuation plan within a wider fire risk assessment and communicate this with all workers
- Working dogs in cold weather require additional nutrition, sufficient rest in dry warm environments without draughts, and may even benefit from dog jackets at times. In the heat, provide regular rest, water access, and shade.
“Today’s rain is tomorrow’s whisky”
Farming requires optimism, patience and perseverance during challenging times and arguably there is no greater challenge than the weather. Whilst the promise of tomorrow’s whisky may keep us going through the rain, we can weather today’s storm most effectively by being prepared for it.
Each farming enterprise will have different challenges and opportunities when it comes to preparing for extreme weather. Plan ahead now, identifying and using what is naturally available and augmenting it with what is practical and will be impactful on your holding. Check out the AHDB weather pages for advice and support.
Whether you are a large team or one man (or woman!) band, your farm team are the most precious resource on the holding so keep them (and you) safe and well. Lead by example, regularly reviewing and modeling safe working practices. Explore the Farmstrong website for practical tips and support in looking after your own health and wellbeing. Your livestock will thank you!
Further information:
Sheep and cattle – cold and heat
Pigs – cold and heat. Pigs temperature requirements
Herdwatch – Top tips for managing freezing conditions on farm
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