When the weather turns wintry and travel is treacherous, many enjoy the opportunity to stay indoors where it’s warm and cozy. But North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Farm specialists, such as John Kimes and Christopher Casterlow, know that before they can put their feet up by the fire, they’ve got to take care of the animals that depend on them for food, water and shelter from the cold.

Small ruminant specialist Casterlow has secured tarps over open-air sections of the goat barn, and placed heat lamps overhead. For goats that still don’t think it’s warm enough, there’s a structure resembling a yurt that Casterlow fashioned from a former fish tank. The tank also has a heat lamp installed.

Snow and ice can cover hay that was previously put out for cows, so beef cattle specialist Kimes had to ensure that hay is available above the surface. Since many of his heifers are calving this time of the year, Kimes offers a special treat, unrolling a bale of sweet hay for the eager herd. The sweet hay is highly palatable and offers higher sugar levels than dry hay, giving the nursing heifers and their calves more calories than dry hay - and perhaps making it a better day to be a cow.