A Cold Winter

Livestock producer learns to keep his cattle warm

HAWARDEN, Iowa (KTIV) - It's that time of year when temperatures can fall well below zero.

But, for Siouxland livestock producers that doesn't mean they get to stay inside where it's warm. They still have to go out and brave the frigid weather.

Not much stops him. He's out rain or shine, in the scorching heat and now in the freezing cold. But that's his job. For Wayne Dekkers of rural Hawarden, Iowa it is a passion that has been passed down from generation to generation. Wayne Dekkers says, "Well I guess in my situation I was born and raised that way. my grandfather fed cattle my dad fed cattle."

The Dekkers have about 3000 cattle on their farm. Wayne Dekkers says, "We start first thing in the morning and feed the cattle, we get that done first. And then the cattle are all checked the pens are walked, and checking the health of the cattle." Read More

While the calendar says winter has only been here for a couple of weeks, in many places people and livestock have been dealing with harsh winter weather for the past couple months. Without a doubt, the cold and snow makes every task more difficult. But for livestock producers, caring for their animals in this weather is a priority. There are no “snow days” for America’s food producers.