Although cattle can survive for a limited time without water, even short-term deprivation leads to declines in feed intake and health risks, particularly increasing mortality hazards and affecting fetal development during winter.

A plentiful supply of good clean water is essential for normal digestion and metabolism, including rumen fermentation, proper movement of feed through the intestinal tract and effective nutrient absorption.

With state funding and local collaboration, Wisconsin’s producer-led Watershed Program has grown to support dozens of groups improving soil and water quality. By 2025, its success inspired efforts across the Midwest, proving that farmer-driven solutions can ripple far beyond state lines.

Decades of genetic innovation meet farmer- and rancher-tested flexibility in alfalfa systems built for yield, quality and climate resilience.

Meet Nebraska’s 2025 Leopold Award winners and learn about the ethic driving their work.

As we move into the summer months, it’s important to consider water quality and availability for livestock. Animals need water to help them regulate their body temperature, digest feed, lubricate their joints, grow muscle and carry out almost every other biological process in their bodies.

I have a riddle for you: If you have too much or too little, you worry about it constantly, but if you have the right amount you don’t think about it at all. What is it?

For cattle producers, feral swine aren’t just another wildlife species to be ignored or even tolerated. These wild pigs cut into profit margins, destroy land and threaten the livelihoods and buying power of landowners and consumers.

The winter months and routinely low air temperatures present unique challenges for feedlot cattle, particularly in terms of maintaining health and productivity. Cold temperatures, fluctuating weather conditions and increased feed requirements can induce stress in cattle and result in health complications.

Wowk Ranch near Beauvallon, Alberta, specializes in breeding, training and selling high-quality horses of various breeds and runs 200 commercial cattle that they feed with a team in the winter.