Winter is often hard on animals. Without the proper care and livestock supplies, your animals can become ill or suffer from infections. To keep them healthy and content through the coldest part of the year, Ohio's Bethel Feed & Supply Pet & Garden Center offers the equipment you need. Furthermore, their experts share their advice on how to care for your animals as the seasons change.

How to Protect Your Animals This Winter

1. Feed Them Plenty

The colder it gets, the more your cattle will need to eat to stay warm. High-quality feed is one of the most essential livestock supplies to get your animals through the winter. Bethel Feed & Supply Pet & Garden Center carries Hubbard®, Southern States®, Purina®/Land O’ Lakes®, and Rip’s® brand feeds.

2. Supply Water

You might think your animals can eat snow or lick ice to keep hydrated, but you're wrong. If your livestock must rely on these sources for water, they'll waste precious body heat and time they should spend eating or resting. Make sure to set your animals up with de-icers and heated buckets, available at Bethel Feed & Supply Pet & Garden Center.

3. Provide Shelter

Wind chill can make a huge difference to an animal's ability to stay warm. Shelter your livestock where they'll have access to windbreaks — and if none exist naturally, you'll need to build them.

4. Keep Them Comfortable

If there's a chance your animals will get wet, bedding is another essential livestock supply. Good, thick bedding will help them stay dry, which will help them stay warm. Bethel Feed & Supply Pet & Garden Center offers straw, shavings, & bedding pellets to keep your livestock protected.

5. Avoid Mud

With rain or snow coming down and livestock trampling the ground, you're bound to see mud — which is a surefire recipe for infections. Pine shavings and other materials can help provide traction and limit the amount of mud which will cling to your animals.

If you have animals to care for, start preparing for winter now. Bethel Feed & Supply Pet & Garden Center will provide the livestock supplies you need for a safe and healthy winter. They also offer pet supplies and garden supplies to keep the rest of your property in good shape. For more information, call (513) 734-2246 or see their products online.