Back to News Winter feeding is a critical period for dairy farmers.
From assessing silage analysis and balancing diets to managing water access and bedding, every aspect of the system plays a role. This guide covers everything you need to think about, including practical considerations and how UFAC’s nutritional products can support cow performance during the winter period.
When Should You Bring Your Cows Inside?
The decision of when to bring dairy cows indoors for winter isn’t fixed to a date on the calendar – it should be based on cow behaviour, body condition score, ground conditions, and forage availability. Getting the timing right can protect cow welfare, support milk yields, and avoid unnecessary stress on both animals and staff.
Ground Conditions
One of the earliest indicators is the condition of the pasture. If fields are becoming poached or waterlogged, cows will struggle to graze effectively, and the risk of injury or lameness increases significantly. Wet, muddy underfoot conditions are also hard on hooves, predisposing animals to issues like digital dermatitis, sole bruising and white line disease. Even if there’s still grass available, if cows are churning up the land or standing for long periods, it’s often best to house them.
Grass Availability and Quality
As grass growth slows and covers fall below around 2,000kg DM/ha, the quantity and quality of forage available from the field may no longer meet the needs of lactating cows. If intakes drop or cows spend more time walking and less time lying, grazing is likely no longer economical or welfare-friendly. At this stage, some producers may choose to buffer feed, but if the balance changes heavily towards supplements, it may be more effective to fully house and manage cows on a consistent winter ration.
Milk Yield and Condition Score
Monitor milk yields closely. A consistent decline can indicate that cows are not getting enough nutrients from grazing alone. Likewise, if you see cows beginning to lose body condition, especially in early lactation, that’s a strong signal that their nutritional needs aren’t being met. It’s usually more efficient to bring them in early and manage nutrition proactively than to try and rebuild condition during late lactation or the dry period.
Weather and Temperature
As autumn progresses, harsher weather makes a significant impact. Persistent cold, wind and rain all increase the cow’s maintenance energy requirement. Wind chill, in particular, can sap energy – if temperatures fall below 5°C, cows begin diverting energy away from milk production just to stay warm. Even well-managed wintering systems can be tested by prolonged poor weather. If cows are huddling, not lying comfortably, or looking cold and stressed, housing becomes a better welfare choice.
Stage of Lactation
Cows in early lactation are most vulnerable to nutritional shortfalls. Their high energy demand makes them less tolerant of inconsistent grazing. For this reason, many herds house fresh calvers earlier while keeping later-lactation or dry cows out longer, if conditions allow. Tailoring the timing by group can ease the housing transition and make the best use of facilities.
Infrastructure and Workload
From a practical standpoint, if housing is ready and winter feed is on the farm, it may be easier to bring cows in proactively. Scrambling to house in response to a weather event can be disruptive and stressful. Planned housing allows time to adapt rations, monitor intakes, and ease cows into a consistent winter routine. It also gives staff a more predictable workload, especially where buffer feeding is becoming increasingly involved.
In most parts of the UK, cows are housed between late September and early November, but it’s less about the calendar and more about condition, cow signals, and practicality. Trust your observations. If cows are chasing every blade of grass, standing hungry at the gate, or lying down less, it’s likely time to bring them in. The earlier you act, the better you can support cow welfare, health, fertility and winter performance.
Forage and Diet Formulation
Good-quality forage is the foundation of a successful winter ration. Before winter begins, test all silage and conserved forage for dry matter, energy, protein, fibre, and fermentation profile. These results will guide ration formulation and help identify where supplementation is needed.
It’s not just about energy and protein – fibre digestibility, starch levels, and the balance between structural and non-structural carbohydrates all affect cow performance. Using a nutritionist to balance forage with concentrates, protected fats, and other supplements will help ensure cows get what they need to maintain milk yields and body condition. Don’t forget to account for adequate mineral and vitamin levels, especially selenium, magnesium and vitamin E, which are often deficient in winter diets.
Adjusting Feed Quantities
As cows move from grazing to full TMR or PMR rations, dry matter intakes and nutrient requirements will shift. Monitor intakes closely, especially in the first weeks of housing, and adjust feeding rates accordingly. Ensure ration consistency and push up feed regularly to encourage appetite.
Cows in early lactation will need higher energy density diets, while late lactation and dry cows must be managed well to avoid over-conditioning. Use condition scoring as part of your routine checks.
Water Management
Clean, fresh water is often overlooked in winter, but it’s just as important as feed. Ensure troughs are accessible, unfrozen and cleaned regularly. Housing design should allow adequate feed space for all cows, especially in high-yielding groups. Keep an eye out for flow rates – cows can drink in excess of 60+ litres a day, and any restriction to access can impact intake and milk production.
Housing and Comfort
Comfortable housing supports feed efficiency, health, and overall cow welfare. Ensure cubicles are well-bedded, dry and appropriately sized. Good ventilation is key – it helps prevent respiratory issues and supports dry bedding. Check for draughts, especially at cow height, and address any leaks or insulation gaps before the cold sets in.
Stocking density is another consideration. Overcrowding can increase stress, limit lying time, and reduce feed access, all of which impact performance and welfare.
Cow Health
Winter conditions can create an environment ripe for health challenges. Respiratory diseases are more common in poorly ventilated sheds, while foot problems may increase due to prolonged time on concrete and wet conditions.
Routine foot bathing, timely trimming, and maintaining dry walking areas will help manage lameness. Keep a close eye on mobility and act quickly if issues arise.
Vaccination schedules should be reviewed well in advance to ensure protection against seasonal threats such as IBR or BVD.
Fertility
Shorter days and reduced energy intakes can impact fertility if not managed carefully. Maintain energy intakes and body condition, especially in early lactation cows, as this underpins strong reproductive performance. Monitor heat and invest in good heat detection – mounting activity may drop during housing, so aids like tail paint or activity monitors can be helpful.
Trace minerals like selenium, copper, and zinc also play a role in fertility and immune function, so ensure that supplementation is appropriate for herd needs.
Issues with Calving – Mastitis and Beyond
For spring calving herds, winter management of dry cows is crucial. The dry period is a golden opportunity to prepare the udder and body for the next lactation.
Ensure dry cow diets are well balanced – low in potassium, with adequate magnesium and vitamin E to prevent milk fever and retained placentas. Bedding must be clean and dry to reduce the risk of environmental mastitis. Pre-calving minerals and transition cow rations can support smoother calvings and healthier calves.
Mastitis risk is often higher in winter due to more time spent lying in potentially damp or contaminated bedding. Maintain rigorous parlour hygiene, post-milking teat care, and regular machine servicing.
Monitoring and Adjustments
Good management relies on timely data. Monitor milk yields, butterfat, protein levels, and body condition scores regularly. Watch for any signs of acidosis, reduced rumen fill or changes in dung consistency. These may indicate a need to adjust the ration.
Milk recording, metabolic profiling and regular feedback from your nutritionist will help fine-tune feeding throughout winter.
Other Considerations
Lighting plays a subtle but important role in milk production and fertility. Cows ideally need 16 hours of light at 200 lux followed by 8 hours of darkness. Review your lighting programme, especially for milking groups.
Labour availability can also shift in winter, so consider how to streamline tasks like feeding, bedding and scraping to maintain routine and reduce stress on staff and animals alike.
UFAC Product Recommendations
UFAC offers a range of high-quality rumen-inert fats and glycerine-based products that support cow health, fertility, and performance during the demanding winter months.
Envirolac
What it is: A palm-free rumen-inert fat made from sustainably sourced vegetable oils and marine oils.
Best for: High-yielding dairy cows needing a boost in milk yields and butterfat, health, and fertility, particularly in high forage rations, and farms looking to reduce their reliance on palm oil for sustainability reasons.
Dynalac
What it is: A highly palatable rumen-inert fat combining fatty acids, including omega-3s.
How it works: Dynalac improves energy density, supports reproductive performance and improves milk yield.
Best for: High-yielding cows and herds focusing on improving fertility and early lactation performance.
Glycerene
What it is: A fast-acting energy source.
How it works: Glycerene is a rumen bypass glucose precursor rapidly absorbed in the intestine and converted to glucose in the liver. It is ideal for addressing energy deficits and preventing ketosis.
Best for: Transition cows and early lactation animals at risk of negative energy balance.
Supa-Cream
What it is: A highly palatable, free-flowing meal formulated as a balanced fat supplement to support high-performing cows throughout lactation.
How it works: Supa-Cream delivers the optimum balance of C16:0 and C18:1 fatty acids, alongside essential omega-3s EPA and DHA from sustainable marine oils. It also supplies linoleic (C18:2) and linolenic (C18:3) acids, plus glycerine to support energy metabolism. By improving diet digestibility and supplying glucose directly to the liver, Supa-Cream enhances liver function, reduces the risk of fatty liver, and promotes efficient utilisation of dietary fats.
Best for: Herds managed as a single milking group, or those looking to optimise milk yield, composition and fertility across all stages of lactation. Supa-Cream supports higher milk production, improved butterfat, better reproductive efficiency, and more stable rumen health — resulting in healthier, more profitable cows.
Preparing for winter feeding is about more than just putting cows indoors and feeding silage. It’s a whole-system approach that integrates nutrition, housing, cow comfort and health. With good planning and the right nutritional support, winter can be a productive and profitable period, not just something to get through.
If you’d like help building a winter ration that incorporates UFAC products or suits your herd’s specific needs, contact your local nutritionist or UFAC representative.
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