Fast Facts:
Snowfall and other wet conditions have left many Arkansas pastures muddy
Cattle producers should take additional measures to ensure the health of cows and calves in these conditions
FAYETTEVILLE — After this winter’s freeze and thaw coupled with the recent rains, many Arkansas landowners have seen their pastures transform into vast acres of mud.
Dirk Philipp, associate professor of animal science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said that wet weather brings with it many challenges for cattle producers.
Although the state has had a chance to dry out after the heavy February snow, portions of Arkansas could see 1-3 inches of rain through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
“Cattle are less able to stay warm, may suffer injuries when walking through deep mud, and, of course, we notice now more than ever the tell-tale signs of lameness due to foot rot and abscesses,” Philipp said.
Some challenges, he said, include mud and manure collected around water troughs, feeding areas and areas where cows bed down; cows tending to congregate more in feeding areas, watering areas, and near gates, and more.
“We tend to place troughs near fence lines where we can access them easily, further leading to muddy pits and congregating areas,” Philipp said.
Other challenges associated with raising cattle in muddy conditions include:
Frozen mud can cause sharp edges, increasing the risk of abrasions to hooves and skin of the interdigital space and increasing the risk of injury during late pregnancy and calving.
Wet conditions after thaw make a cow’s hooves and the skin softer, allowing bacteria to enter via abrasions or injuries.
Bacterial infection between the claws of the toes (foot rot) can cause cattle to present as suddenly lame.
Foot rot organisms, such as Fusobacterium necrophorum, are naturally present in most environments. Incidence of rot typically increase in wet, muddy pastures and areas where fecal matter tends to collect.
The risk of developing foot rot is increased during late pregnancy and into calving due to increased stress on the immune system.
Calves born in wet, muddy conditions with a heavy manure load may begin nursing from overly dirty udders, ingesting harmful pathogens and leading to scours, which is potentially deadly for newborns.