Best-practice guide to outwintering

Use the information below to make informed decisions around outwintering your livestock and explore the options that are best suited to your system.

Bale grazing and deferred grazing enable you to outwinter your livestock.

Bales are placed on the pasture before winter and fed in a controlled manner using electric fencing.

Cattle feed directly from these bales or graze on deferred pasture that has been allowed to accumulate during the growing season.

On this page you will find the basic principles for successfully outwintering your livestock, with more detail on the different stages via the links below.

Setting goals for outwintering success

Before diving into the practicalities of outwintering livestock, it is essential to take a step back and think about your goals.

Setting clear objectives will help guide your decision-making, ensuring that your outwintering strategy aligns with your overall farm goals and values.

Consider asking yourself the following questions:

What are your financial goals?
Are you looking to reduce feed costs, save on housing expenses or increase overall profitability? Quantify your targets where possible, such as aiming for a specific reduction in wintering costs per animal.

What personal outcomes do you want to achieve?
Outwintering can improve your work-life balance by reducing daily workloads or freeing up time during the winter months. Are you hoping for more flexibility or less reliance on infrastructure?

How important are environmental and biodiversity benefits?
Do you aim to improve soil health, enhance wildlife habitats or reduce the environmental footprint of your farm? Goals might include increasing soil organic matter, improving water infiltration or boosting biodiversity in outwintered areas.

What livestock performance outcomes are you targeting?
Consider how your animals’ health and productivity factor into your goals. For instance, maintaining condition scores, reducing lameness or ensuring consistent growth rates might be priorities.

Once you have a clear idea of your goals, use them to shape your decisions on forage selection, site management and outwintering practices.

By keeping your goals in mind, you can tailor your approach to achieve the best possible outcomes for your farm, livestock and environment.

Key principles of outwintering livestock

Outwintering livestock can be a cost-effective and sustainable practice when applied with careful planning and management. This approach integrates livestock into the broader farming system while minimising environmental impact.

Below is a summary of the key principles and commonly used terminology to support your planning process.

Plan

• Assess your farm’s resources, identify suitable sites and ensure sufficient forage is available
• Develop contingency plans for weather extremes or unforeseen challenges

Match livestock to conditions

• Consider livestock breed, age and condition to ensure they are well-suited to outdoor conditions during winter
• Ensure animals have adequate shelter and nutrition to maintain health and welfare
• Transition animals slowly to new diets over 10–15 days to prevent digestive upset or weight loss
• Ensure constant access to clean, unfrozen water

Prioritise soil and environmental health

• Use grazing techniques that protect soil structure, avoid overgrazing and promote biodiversity
• Manage high-risk areas to prevent soil erosion and nutrient run-off

Maximise forage utilisation

• Use strategies such as deferred grazing or bale grazing to provide high-quality forage while minimising waste

Monitor and adapt

• Regularly assess livestock conditions, forage availability and site conditions, carry out regular health checks and implement parasite control measures
• Be prepared to adjust plans to respond to changing weather or animal needs

Achieve financial and personal goals

• Ensure your system aligns with your broader farm objectives and check you are achieving your goals
• Review your figures on a regular basis

Key considerations

Livestock needs

Understand the nutritional requirements of your livestock. Silage may be better for high-producing animals due to its higher energy content, while hay can be suitable for maintenance rations.

Forage crops often lack sufficient minerals, such as iodine, selenium and zinc. Vitamins (e.g. A, D3, E) may also need supplementation if forage lacks adequate levels.

Environmental conditions

Assess local weather patterns and soil types. In areas with high humidity, cutting silage may be more practical, while drier climates may favour haymaking.

Cost analysis

Consider the costs associated with each option, including equipment, storage and potential losses due to spoilage or weather.

Include any adjustment to accommodate shutting off the bale-grazing area and date of its first graze post winter.

Forage quality

Test forage quality, whether it is hay or silage, and if deferring grazing, then do so just ahead of the date you want to start.

When selecting forage for outwintering, consider factors such as yield, nutritional value, winter hardiness and suitability for your specific livestock and environmental conditions.

Feeding management

Plan your feeding strategy based on the type of forage.

Key terminology

Further information and next steps

Explore the following pages to understand more about outwintering your livestock and how to make sure they receive enough nutrients.