“They’re acclimated to this. Especially the bison,” Linkhart said of the native species. “They don’t even come in. You’d give them a barn and they wouldn’t go into it.”
>> Another blast of arctic air, snow headed this way
Linkhart makes sure his herds are well fed through the winter because they need the extra calories to keep up their energy. He also constantly checks the water to make sure it isn’t frozen.
Some animals prefer to stay inside.
“Hogs don’t have that much hair, but as long as there are more than one of them, they’ll pile up to keep each other warm and they have a thick layer of fat on them, helps insulate their bodies as well,” Linkhart said.
Enjoying an afternoon outdoors, many horses on area farms were wearing blankets, some quite colorful.
>> Pets need protection, too, from dangerously low temperatures
Officials with the Ohio Department of Agriculture said how well animals do in the winter depends a lot on how acclimated they are to Ohio winters. For example, horses born here are used to them, but horses brought in from warmer climates may need some extra care.
Many local farm families, including Linkhart’s, have been taking care of animals for generations and know their livestock well.
“Again, it’s primarily important, you give them a place to get out of the weather and plenty of feed and water,” he said.
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