Getting Cattle Ready for Winter Housing

Winter housing is the biggest change your herd faces all year. Getting the basics right before cattle come in protects milk yield, liveweight and health through the housed period.

Housing and ventilation

Check sheds for drafts at animal level while keeping good airflow above. Stocking density matters: overstocked sheds drive lameness, mastitis and aggression. Make sure cubicles or bedding areas are comfortable, dry and correctly sized for your herd.

Water

Cattle drink most of their daily intake indoors, so check troughs for flow rate, cleanliness and access. A cow should never have to wait for water. Clean or replace trough liners and check ballcocks before housing day.

Feeding

Test silage before the housed period and balance the ration for the level of production you expect. Check feed barriers and feed space per animal, and make sure minerals and boluses are ordered ahead of the season.

Health checks

Complete autumn dosing for fluke and worms ahead of housing where appropriate, check feet and treat early lameness, and have vaccination plans discussed with your vet. Stock up on teat care, mastitis prevention and dairy hygiene essentials now.

The essentials worth checking

Walk the shed with a checklist: water flow, feed space, bedding, ventilation, lighting, handling facilities and footbath placement. Fixing small problems before housing day is far easier than managing them with the herd indoors.