Managing the winter “mud tax” in cow

By Dr. Haley Linder, Assistant Professor of Ruminant Nutrition, OSU Extension

If there is one universal truth about Ohio winters, it’s that they are rarely just cold. They are wet, unpredictable, and dominated by freeze–thaw cycles that turn lots and pastures inevitably muddy. While we often complain about mud because it pulls boots off and makes chores miserable, we sometimes overlook the economic toll it takes on the cow herd. Mud isn’t just an annoyance; it is an energy thief.

The “Mud Tax” on cattle energy efficiency

Research done at the OSU Eastern Agricultural Research Station in Caldwell showed that cows housed in muddy, unbedded pens had an increased energy demand of 3.9 Mcal per day. To put 3.9 Mcal in perspective, that is roughly the energy contained in 4 lbs of corn.

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