Outdoor wintering of suckler cows in low mountain ranges

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to study the adaptability of beef cows to outdoor wintering. Between 1992 and 1996, spring-calving suckler cows were observed during four winter periods in a low mountain range area. Cows of the Galloway and Limousin×Friesian genotypes were used. Two reference herds consisted of outdoor-wintered Galloway cows with access to a roofed area (Gal-Roof) and Limousin×Friesian cows kept in an uninsulated barn (LF-Barn) and were considered to reflect typical German suckler cow systems. As an experimental herd, Limousin×Friesian cows were wintered outdoors with access to a roofed area during the first three winter periods (LF-Roof) and in the last winter, these cows had no access to a roofed area (LF-No Roof). On uninsulated ground, the percentage of lying cows decreased and cows preferred to lie on a straw-bedded yard when the ambient temperature was low and the ground was moist. When cows had a choice between different weather-protected areas, the roofed area was most frequently visited. But Limousin×Friesian cows without access to a roofed area did not suffer from hypothermia when dry lying areas were provided. In severe weather conditions, cows reduced their motor activity and remained near the feeding point which could have an adverse influence on the environment. The body condition scores at the end of winter indicated that the outdoor-wintered cows were in similar body condition to cows kept indoors which meant that the expected increase in basal metabolic rate was not high. Continuous recording of vaginal temperature during the winter period showed that, even in severe weather conditions, cows were able to maintain homeothermy. Even in a low mountain range area there was no evidence of Galloway cows being more cold tolerant than Limousin×Friesian cows and outdoor wintering of both genotypes was possible.