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Livestock producers working around the clock to protect animals during arctic blast

Livestock producers are working hard to protect their animals as bitterly cold temperatures sweep across the Midwest.

Northwest Minnesota cow/calf producer Jake Thompson says cattle are hardy creatures.

“So we try to get them in a spot with wind protection and go ahead and start getting them bedded up real nice with some type of fibrous material (like) wheat stalk, corn stalks, sawdust, or whatever you’ve got to kind of give them that good insulation between them and the ground in a nice, dry place to lie down.”

He tells Brownfield nutrition is huge under extreme weather conditions.

“Body score (is important) so they have all the tools they need (like) fat layers, proper hair, and everything else to kind of withstand some of these temperatures.”

Thompson says temps on his farm near Fargo are expected to bottom out Wednesday at -30 to -40 with windchills as low as -60.