Let's Talk About the Ag On Your PlateHow do farmers care for their animals in the winter?
How do farmers care for their animals in the winter? Answered by Gerry Kopping, Cook County Farmer
In the winter, our barns are kept at about 40 degrees. When a barn is colder and drier it often means animals will stay healthier because fewer germs will spread in that type of environment. If a barn becomes warmer with moisture and humidity which is often dictated by the air temperature this tends to allow germs to breed. A colder, drier barn can be compensated for with the fact that all animals have a tendency to keep themselves warm through the generation of body heat.
We provide around the clock care for the horses, which are boarded on our farm and owned by people who do not have the property to raise horses themselves. And animal care doesn’t stop just because its winter.
For our family, farming has been a labor of love for generations. Our hope is to keep our family legacy going for years to come.
Kopping Farms has grown to include the home farm and another 400-acres of leased land for hay, corn and soybeans.
Have a question? Submit it to [email protected]. We’ll share questions with our farmers and publish their answers as space allows in upcoming issues of The Co-Operator.