Set yourself up for outwintering success

If you’re thinking of outwintering your cattle this winter, don’t wait until it’s too late to prepare. Katie Evans, Senior Engagement Manager (Beef & Lamb), shares tips for setting yourself up for success and avoiding unnecessary stress.

Outwintering doesn’t start in the autumn – it starts now.

While summer workloads are full-on, this is the ideal time to step back, set clear goals and put solid plans in place.

Leaving decisions until the weather turns can mean missed opportunities, higher costs and unnecessary pressure.

Getting ahead gives you time to choose the right system, line up feed supplies, check land suitability and make any infrastructure tweaks well before animals head out.

Before looking at fields or feed, be clear about what success looks like for your farm.

Are you aiming to:

• Reduce housing and labour costs?
• Protect grassland and extend grazing?
• Improve cow condition and performance?
• Manage soils and minimise damage?

Clear goals help guide every decision that follows – from site selection to stock management.

Planning in the summer means you can properly assess:

• Site selection: soil type, slope, drainage, access and shelter
• Animal suitability: type, condition and nutritional needs
• Feed and forage: quantities, quality and delivery logistics
• Water and access: reliable supply and safe movement
• Environmental risk: run-off, poaching and nutrient management
• Contingency plans: weather extremes, movement options and backup sites

Thinking these through early will help you avoid rushed decisions and costly changes later in the year.

Farms that plan outwintering well ahead are better placed to:

• Stay flexible if conditions change
• Protect soil and welfare standards
• Spread workload and costs
• Enter winter with confidence

Don’t leave it until autumn – the most successful outwintering systems are built with time, preparation and clear planning.

Visit our outwintering pages where you’ll find a step‑by‑step guide to help you plan and prepare over the coming months – from what to consider first to final checks before your animals go out.

Start now, plan smart and set yourself up for a smoother winter.