44 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2025 the apron, try as best you can to add additional soil there and make that a pretty good pack,” Sperber says. “It is critical that cattle can make it up to the feed bunk and if you can get them on the apron, then you know you’re going to have success in still getting feed into them when that moisture does hit.” Sperber references some yards that have added aprons in the rear of the pen to allow for improved pen drainage and ease of scraping. In situations where moisture is already present, Sperber advises using absorbent bedding like straw or wood chips behind the apron and monitoring pen waterers to prevent overflow. She emphasizes that pen surface management is critical for keeping cattle healthy and if the pen cannot be scraped during a severe weather event, using other strategies that keep cattle dry and able to get to the feed bunk and water is essential at a time when they are stressed and immunocompromised. “Cattle can deal with dry cold really well; cattle are challenged with a wet cold,” Sperber states. “As soon as they’re wet, they’re losing thermal body heat. And as soon as that happens, they can go downhill pretty quickly.” With extreme moisture and mud situations facing several Nebraska cattle feedlots in early 2024, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension hosted a discussion between faculty and producers on a webinar called, “Emergency resources for managing mud in feedlots.” In this webinar (available on beef.unl.edu), key points included the adverse effects of mud on cattle such as increased maintenance requirements and decreased weight gain by up to a pound per day with 2 to 7 inches of mud. Cost of gain could increase by 30 percent with more mud. Strategies to mitigate these effects include bedding, re-establishing pen drainage and relocating animals. The importance of providing access to water and rest was highlighted, along with the need for long-term planning to improve feedlot design. The conversation also touched on the challenges of treating cattle in muddy conditions and the potential for increased foot rot cases. UNL provides several resources for producers wanting to plan for mud or what to do in emergency mud situations. Find more on beef.unl.edu. ~NC~ “Cattle can deal with dry cold really well; cattle are challenged with a wet cold.” –Jessica Sperber, Ph.D. MANAGING MUD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43 Mound structures can be implemented in pens for dry resting areas.
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