Wind Chill Warning from Teagasc

26 January, 2004

With cold winds forecast over the coming days Teagasc has advised farmers to be particularly careful in protecting vulnerable animals outdoors against wind chill.

Gerry Scully, Chief Sheep Adviser with Teagasc, said that young lambs and also young cattle can be affected by wind chill.

“If the air temperature is 3°C and the wind speed is 25 miles per hour, then the wind chill temperature is minus 5°C. Likewise, if the air temperature is minus 1°C with the same wind speed then the wind chill temperature is actually minus 9°C”, he said.

Animals lose heat through the skin. As the wind increases in cold weather, heat is drawn out of the animals body driving down their temperature.

Gerry Scully said ewes with young lambs should be moved to fields with shelter from the north winds. Feed extra meals and shepherd the flock regularly. Watch for lambs being left on their own. Get weak lambs indoors, dry them off and feed with a stomach tube. Give about 50 mls of lamb milk replacer per kilogram bodyweight.

“Ewes that are due to lamb outdoors over the next week need a lot of care. Bales of hay or straw can be used to set up a sheltered area so that the newborn lambs can be protected from the winds. Stomach tube newborn lambs with colostrum substitute and dry the lambs using brown paper if possible,” he advised.

He also warned that recently lambed ewes and their lambs should not be put in sheds where cattle are nearby due to the risk of transmitting bovine malignant catarrh which can be fatal to cattle.

He also advised that young cattle outside should be moved to shelter and be given additional meal.