By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Cattlemen
Spring and fall bring unique challenges to the cattle business, with lengthy to-do lists often made worse by unpredictable seasonal hurdles—mud being one of the most troublesome issues that are easy to overlook until it becomes a serious problem.
Mud can significantly hinder productivity, compromise animal health, and reduce weather resilience. While it’s impossible to eliminate, there are ways to mitigate its impact in the most problematic areas.
Terry Mader of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cites mud as, generally speaking, “… one of our costliest weather hazards.”
In his article Profit Tip: Managing Cattle Facilities To Minimize Mud, he notes that mud can impact maintenance energy requirements and overall performance. Mud also impacts how animals dissipate heat in the summer or stay warm in the winter Additionally, wet muddy areas are potential breeding areas for flies.
The High Cost of Muddy Conditions
Excessive mud has an undeniable impact on the ability of cattle to tolerate the cold. It can also cause excessive stress and health issues including various hoof ailments and reluctance to rest or lie down adequately.
The foremost issue is the inability of wet, mud-caked coats to function properly. Hair that is wet and matted down prevents it from standing on end and providing the natural insulation to the hide. This leaves animals continually chilled and immunosuppressed. For calves and at-risk animals, mud (and any manure mingled with it) can serve as a carrier for various pathogens which can be easily picked up when calves are nursing on filthy teats.
Penn State Extension educators Nathan Briggs and Ronald Lemenager emphasize the detrimental effects of mud on cattle comfort and productivity in their bulletin, Heavy Use Area Pads for Cattle.
“Cow comfort and health will be decreased when exposed to pathogen-enriched mud,” they write, adding that discomfort or poor health negatively impacts growth rates and milk production. For feedlot cattle, this means reduced muscle or fat deposition, while lactating cows experience lower milk yields.
The authors explain that these inefficiencies have ripple effects on the operation.
“If the cows are producing less milk, then the calves will have lower weaning weights,” they note. Economic losses stem from energy being diverted to manage temperature imbalances or support immune responses, rather than being used for production.
Briggs and Lemenager also point out that environmental factors exacerbate the problem.
“A wet hair coat caused by mud along with the cooler temperature during the Northeast wet season will increase the animal’s environmental heat loss. This will then lead to an increased maintenance energy need and cause a decrease in production and efficiency.”
Problem Areas
High-traffic areas are the primary concern for unmanageable mud, as they tend to deteriorate quickly and become problematic the fastest. These include handling facilities, feed and water troughs, lanes, alleyways, and bedding areas where cattle congregate frequently.
In some cases, these problem spots can be avoided or mitigated. For instance, feeding locations for animals on pasture can be rotated periodically to minimize wear and mud buildup.
Areas where water pools or runoff collects are particularly prone to mud issues. These may result from naturally sloping ground, runoff from feed bunks, or water drainage from overhead shelters. Addressing water accumulation in the dry seasons can go a long way in preventing excessive mud in these spots.
Making Improvements
It’s not practical to completely eradicate mud on the farm, pastures, feeding areas, etc. However, cattle and facilities should be managed to reduce the negative impact or prevent any compound issues, according to Jane Parish an extension specialist at Mississippi State University in her article Managing Mud on Cattle Operations.
Likewise, knowing what type of soil or ground you have can help tackle any drainage issues, by identifying what it is and what can be done to improve it. Determining this for high-traffic areas can be key as water can more easily drain or not pool as bad.
Making structural changes to high-traffic areas can significantly improve conditions. Solutions range from low-cost options, such as laying down stall mats or similar products, to more expensive investments like pouring grooved concrete. For a middle-ground solution, adding gravel can help reduce mud without straining your budget.
For communal areas like feed bunks and hay feeders, relocating them periodically—when feasible—can also mitigate mud buildup and wear.
If you opt for more permanent upgrades, such as pouring concrete, take the time to design these improvements according to basic industry specs. A well-planned approach ensures durability, functionality, and long-term benefits and will decrease the odds of injuries to people and animals.
For example, there should be a slope away from the bunk of about 4-6% to allow runoff away from the bunks, as illustrated in the University of Minnesota extensions article Facilities and Cattle Handling by Stephen Boyle and colleagues. Buildings should have high-capacity gutters and run-off should be moved away from the building and fences.
“Areas behind the feed bunks, and between the bunk and waterers should be scraped at least once weekly. Drainage diversions may be needed as the lot extends away from the shed.”
Maintaining high traffic and major outdoor areas is important to overall health by maintaining proper hygiene for the animal. It also keeps the animal’s maintenance energy requirements at a desired level.
Keeping mud to a minimum can also prevent low productivity in the herd. If there are problem areas throughout your facilities, summer is a great opportunity to tackle those areas to address any issues before the next winter. As Mader notes, it also allows time to improve any drainage issues or create a better water runoff system.