With all the demands of caring for animals in the winter, it is harder to prioritize what seems like a summer concern. Even in the cold, proper hydration and electrolyte balance are critical for livestock and the people caring for them. Electrolytes are our important ally in supporting health on the farm when conditions are at their toughest.
Winter’s Hidden Hydration Challenge
Water is our most important nutrient! We are almost 70% water and it is the main mechanism for removing waste from our cells and body. Dehydration is often overlooked outside of the summer but there are many reasons why winter is even more taxing on your hydration health.
- Cold air dehydrates: Put simply, colder air is drier air. People and livestock alike lose a lot of moisture through our breath and skin during the winter.
- Cold masks thirst and sweat: Feeling cold blunts the sensation of how thirsty we really are and how much we sweat. Sweat also dries more quickly in the cold air or is absorbed into thick winter coats (both those worn by humans and grown by animals), making it trickier to gauge.
- Cold induced diuresis: Scientists have discovered a connection between cold and urination frequency. We naturally lose fluids and electrolytes as our kidneys filter out minerals through our urine.
- Metabolic cost of moving in the cold: Simply existing in the cold takes a lot of energy. When you add shivering and outside farm chores on top of that, you and your animals' metabolisms are working in overdrive all winter.
- Dry Feedstuffs: dry feed is lower in water and minerals than fresh feed. Ruminants especially need extra fluids to support the microbes that ferment dry feed in their gut.
- Lifestage stressors: All of these hydration needs are compounded when you add pregnancy, lactation, and growth into the mix. Any animals that are pregnant, producing milk, or growing quickly (like calves, kids, and lambs) need plenty of fluids to keep their metabolism, digestion, and immune systems strong.
Why Electrolytes Matter Year-Round
Electrolytes perform a lot of tasks within our cells, nerves, muscles, heart, and brain. They power all the electrical impulses and biological processes we need to function. Electrolytes like sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, phosphorus, and zinc help:
- Regulate blood pressure
- Control fluid balance in and out of cells
- Power nerve and muscle function
- Balance pH levels
- Some electrolytes, like magnesium and zinc, also support vital immune functions especially during times of weather stress.
- Learn more about how electrolytes help the plants, animals, and people on your farm.
Signs of Electrolyte Imbalance in Winter
Electrolytes are in nearly every fluid and cell in our bodies, so their absence or imbalance can have far reaching effects. Here are the symptoms and indicators of electrolyte imbalance/dehydration in the winter for you and your livestock:
Livestock indicators
- Changes or reduction in feed and water intake
- Stiffness and fatigue
- Poor performance (weight loss or slower gains, poor milk production, lower body condition scores, etc.)
- Slower recovery from illness
- Firmer manure or impacted digestion
Human indicators
- Fatigue, low energy
- Headaches
- Muscle cramps, spasms, or twitches
- Brain fog
- Constipation
Supporting Winter Hydration for Livestock
Here are some simple but important tips for encouraging healthy hydration in your animals this winter:
- Offer Free Choice Trace Mineral Salts: Eating salty electrolytes naturally encourages your animals to drink. If you were rationing minerals before, consider switching to free choice and adding more mineral stations. Offer salt mixes with a broader and fuller range of trace minerals to prevent winter-time deficiencies before they start. Redmond salt’s mineral profile naturally has 4 complete electrolytes and over 60 trace minerals…try making a switch today that your herd will love!
- Winterize water sources: Most animals prefer water between 40-65° F. For sub-freezing temperatures, try using continuous flow valves or trough heaters to make their water source more palatable and keep them drinking. You can also stack bales or black tires (to better absorb sunlight) on the windward side of water troughs and insulate the side that livestock can’t access. Click to get more winter livestock watering tips from West Virginia University.
- Prioritize pregnant and lactating animals: On average, a non-lactating animal drinks one gallon of water per 100 pounds of body weight per day in the winter. Their water intake should nearly double when they are lactating!
Supporting Winter Hydration for Humans on the Farm
- Re-Lyte® Hydration offers clean, mineral-rich hydration you can take anywhere. Our zero-calorie, carb-free, no-added-sugar blends can become a daily habit during all your winter chores.
- Remember that hydration doesn’t have to be cold! Redmond’s seasonal chocolate Re-Lyte® is a delicious and warm way to stay at peak performance in the cold.
- Learn more about electrolytes for cold weather exertion.
Winter Farming with Redmond
Redmond has proudly supported healthy farms across the country since the 1950s. We have a wide range of natural sea and volcanic mineral mixes with proven benefits for every livestock class.
Be sure to also check out our free guide to winter safety on the farm!