The weather outside may be frightful but dairy cows are delightfully warm inside the barn! Did you know a cow’s ideal temperature is between 25°F – 50°F? Most barns are equipped with curtains that may be manually raised or lowered to protect against snow and wind. Soft sand or straw beds keep cows warm and dry. And sometimes calves wear calf jackets to conserve heat — much like we wear coats!  Learn more about how dairy farmers keep their cows healthy and comfortable, especially during the coldest months:

• Curtains. Most barns are equipped with curtains that may be manually raised or lowered to protect cows from cold weather and whipping winds.
• Bedding. Soft bedding, like sand or straw, is provided around-the-clock to help keep cows comfortable and warm.
• Calf Hutches. Calves are often kept in hutches or individual pens, which have clean and dry bedding (like straw) for them to nestle in and doors that may be temporarily shut to protect them from cold weather and wind.
• Calf Jackets. Many farms also use calf jackets to help calves conserve heat and stay warm, much like we put on coats to keep warm.

Read this article, which includes a video to play for your students, to learn more about how dairy farmers keep their animals warm and comfortable during wintertime.