Safe Shelter and Evacuation
Plans should be made weeks ahead of a potential disaster, with consideration given to pens, loading facilities, transportation, evacuation routes and final destination of livestock. Livestock out on pasture are especially susceptible to displacement by flooding.
Make a plan that represents your flood risk as it relates to your livestock housing and pasture accessibility. Options may include safety in enclosed structures, higher pasture ground, evacuation to higher elevation, or relocation to local alternatives such as auction barn, fairgrounds, etc.
Consider where barns are located when being used for livestock shelter. If a barn is located in a flood plain like most old barns built close to water, then provide an escape route for the cattle to leave if an overnight flood occurs. Do not shut the barn door unless you check livestock every few hours.
A necessary evacuation from shelter to a safer place may be necessary in emergency.
Unconfined livestock can usually take care of themselves during floods. Be sure animals are evacuated before floodwaters enter barns and other enclosed livestock areas.
Do not let them become trapped in low-lying pens. If flooding arises in traditional livestock buildings, animals have a greater chance of survival outside. Animals sometimes refuse to leave during a rapid rise of water and may drown inside if the water rises high enough.
Although cattle will move to higher ground if possible, they may move to areas where rescue is not possible. Trying to rescue cattle and other large livestock in deep-water situations is dangerous and can be deadly to animals and people.
Feed Supplies
Floodwaters often prevent producers from reaching feed supplies either directly or through damage to roads. Road or field conditions with wet spring weather may limit ability to move feedstuffs to our livestock near our home operation.
Having feed supplies on hand is important because feed assistance may not be available during a flood. Ranchers should pre-select sites on high ground for hay, emergency water supplies, and fencing supplies or panels.
Ranchers also need to be aware that moving feed may cause problems. Road weight restrictions can limit ranchers ability to haul in new feed if they use coproducts such as beet pulp, beet tailings or distiller’s grains to feed their cattle.
Provide forage as possible, but plan for grain supplementation at or near the barn for calving, lambing, or kidding when energy needs are greatest during lactation. If supplementing grain, increase amount gradually to prevent acidosis or overeating disease.
Preparing for Muddy Conditions
While not all areas will experience flooding, mud is likely to be an issue on many farms and ranches during spring. Mud can reduce the insulation value of hair coats, increase energy requirements, and increase the potential for foot rot and other health issues.
Mud also may chill or trap newborn calves and lambs, and can carry a variety of pathogens that can affect calves and lambs directly or through contact with dirty udders. There may be few options once muddy conditions are in place.
While pasture growth may be delayed, having a location for relief from snow/mud during calving may help with producer access to calving cows and calf health.
Mud may force producers to move livestock to temporary feeding areas such as stockpiled pastures with adequate drainage or fields containing crop residue such as corn stalks.
With cattle feedlots, scrape lots to maintain a 3% to 5% slope away from the feed bunk, and reshape mounds to ensure improved drainage and high spots for confined animals. Make sure all animals have access to clean water and adequate feed.
