The Effects of Prolonged Rain on Cattle

In cattle, prolonged rain causes reduced performance, increased disease susceptibility, feed spoilage and an overabundance of poisonous plants. These adverse effects result in increased expense and reduced profit for the cattle producer. Efforts taken to protect animals from long periods of wet weather include providing feed in covered troughs, moving cattle when areas around them become muddy and providing sheds, barns, or groves of trees as shelter from weather. Corrals and pen floors are made of gravel or concrete to reduce muddy conditions.

  1. Reduced Performance

    • In research studies, the University of California found that artificial rain reduced cattle performance slightly, depending upon the amount of rain. Muddy pens, however, seriously affected performance. Rate of gain was reduced by approximately 35 percent and the amount of feed required to produce 1 lb. of gain increased by about 25 cent. The National Research Council reported in 1981 that mud 4 to 8 inches deep can reduce feed intake by 5 to 15 percent. Mud 12 to 24 inches deep can decrease feed intake by up to 15 to 30 percent.

    Disease Susceptibility

    • With prolonged rain, standing water usually enhances the spread of illnesses such as anthrax, blackleg, Black's disease, red water, malignant edema, Sord disease, tetanus and botulism. These diseases usually kill the animal within 24 to 48 hours after the initial infection. Cattle are also more susceptible to foot rot and mastitis because flood waters spread the causative organisms. These two diseases rarely kill cattle but are difficult to cure.

    Spoiled Feed

    • Baled hay becomes saturated during prolonged rain, spoils rapidly and produces mold. Wet feed in troughs spoils and becomes moldy as well. Mold reduces energy, thiamine and vitamins A, D3, E, and K in feed and reduces nutritional quality of foraged food. Moldy feeds tend to be dusty, reducing their palatability and causing respiratory problems in cattle. Often, cattle refuse to eat moldy feed resulting in reduced weight gain and performance. In addition, moldy feeds can cause abortions.

    Toxic Plant Material Availability

    • Heavy prolonged rain knocks leaves, fruits and nuts from trees and provides a larger supply poisonous plant materials than would normally be available. Several plant materials are toxic to cattle if eaten in large quantities. Three plants that produce toxic materials are buckeye or horse chestnut, black cherry and most oak species. All parts of the buckeye and black cherry plants can be toxic to cattle, whereas oak leaves are its most toxic components. Poisoning symptoms include salivation and diarrhea followed by trembling, staggering and labored breathing.