Pet owners may want to start preparing now for a "supersized" El Niño expected to affect the country this fall and winter, with those caring for livestock facing some unique challenges when wet and wintry weather arrives. The latest forecast suggests the developing El Niño could reach peak strength toward the end of this year, Newsweek previously reported, with there being a 75 percent chance it will reach historic strength during the October-to-December period. The science leaves no room for doubt: the planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are heating up,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement earlier this month.
El Niño occurs when ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific become unusually warm, influencing atmospheric patterns and shifting weather patterns around the world. In the United States, El Niño winters are typically wetter across the southern tier, including California, while the northern tier tends to be warmer and drier. Because conditions vary from one El Niño to another, animal owners should prepare for the specific risks expected in their region.
Preparing cattle for a potentially wet and cold winter looks very different from preparing a dog or cat. Cody Deluisio, herd manager at Deluisio Angus in Pennsylvania, told Newsweek that cattle essentially rely on the food they eat to help keep themselves warm. "Cattle's internal furnace is powered by digesting roughage," he said.
"During an El Niño winter, which normally means wet freezing rain, their coats get wet and they lose their insulation." That means owners may need to provide additional feed or protection from the elements. At Deluisio Angus, the farm is planning to have about 30 percent more hay on hand this year in anticipation of winter. "Managing cattle in El Niño is less about bringing them inside and more about giving them the food and the environment to keep themselves warm and dry," Deluisio said.
Rain creates another problem for livestock: mud. "Cattle turn wet ground into mud in no time," Deluisio said, adding that mud can cause cattle to slip and become injured or develop hoof rot from constant moisture. Owners should therefore consider how they will manage areas that receive heavy traffic, particularly around gates, feeding areas and water sources, whether by using mats, keeping cattle on concrete more or cleaning those areas regularly.
Prolonged wet conditions can also make it more difficult for animals to remain clean and dry, making drainage and pasture management an important part of preparing for the season. Wind protection is another important consideration. While it might seem logical to put cattle inside a heated barn during particularly cold or windy weather, Deluisio said that isn't necessarily the best solution.
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