Meg Brew, Pasture Extension Agent, UF/IFAS Extension, Lake County
(Previously published online with the University of Florida: December 21, 2022)

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!
As Floridians we are generally not used to colder temperatures. Anything below a balmy 70 degrees sends me rifling through my closet looking for scarves and a heavy coat. I’ve even been known to don long johns when the mercury reaches 50.

Fortunately, our livestock are much better equipped to weather the weather than we humans are! Livestock begin to put on a winter coat in response to a decrease in day length in the late summer and early fall.  When temperatures drop, the individual hairs of their coat will stand up and create an insulating air pocket around them, trapping body heat. Ruminant animals like cattle, sheep, and goats also produce additional body heat through Continue reading Caring for Livestock During Cold(er) Weather →