Southwest Missouri experienced significant snowfall and low temperatures this past week. According to Ozark's First Weather Service, Jasper County received 6.5 inches on Tuesday. The severe weather conditions can affect the region's cattle and livestock, which are a way of life for many Southwest Missourians.
A 2022 Missouri Census of Agriculture shows that about 70% of all Jasper and Dade County farms were livestock.
The Southwest Missouri region sold the highest number of cattle—9,300—just last week, according to Gov. Mike Kehoe's Weekly Market agriculture summary.
University of Missouri Extension's Patrick Davis said the below-freezing temperatures can affect cows' health.
"Their nutrient needs are going to go up because they're going need that to produce heat to stay warm," he said.
According to Davis, calving season mixed with wintry conditions is also a problem. He said producers or farmers are having trouble keeping newborn calves warm
This is not a new issue. Farmers must deal with changing and wintery conditions every year to keep their livestock alive and viable for sale. But the back-to-back winter storms can cause additional losses.
One local Southwest Missouri farmer, Adam Whitesell, said he's lost two cows and two calves in the past month—two of them newborn calves frozen solid.
"It's crucial that the mother's instincts kick in once they give birth to their calves to keep them alive," Whitesell said. “And making sure we keep those caves warm and get enough colostrum in them and get them healthy so that they stay alive.”
Whitesell said he's seen cows fend for their own warmth instead of their young.
According to Whitesell, the warmth and survival of cattle also depend on the land's makeup. Big cedar trees are optimal for shielding wind.
The gestation period for cows is very similar to a human's nine months. Whether or not a mother cow gives birth during the winter depends on the breeding conditions nine months prior.
However, calving in January and February is becoming increasingly popular to ensure the breeding period beats the summer heat, according to Jordan Thomas a University of Missouri Animal Sciences professor.
There are different opinions on the best birthing conditions for cows. Both Whitesell and Davis agree that it's better to birth a cow in the snow rather than mud in the spring. Calving season is often associated with springtime because of the ample foliage and prime weather conditions.
But the winter weather can be brutal on the mother cow and the calf.
It can seem unpredictable what to do with newborn calves during the winter. Davis recommends keeping livestock dry above all else. Cows, after all, have an internal temperature built into them to keep them warm.
"Cattle actually can take pretty cold temperatures as long as they're dry," he said. "If snow on their backs, their winter coats are doing their job."
