Windbreaks provide relief from cold winter winds but can prevent air movement when the weather is warm. Design windbreaks to meet both conditions. If overhead shelter is provided it should be designed to allow air movement, protection from radiant heat, and allow for drying under the shelter by permitting sunlight to contact all of the covered surface during the day. Overhead shelters should be at least 10 feet high, provide 189 square feet of covered area per animal, and be oriented north to south to allow sunlight to shine on all areas under the shelter. The second rule is to pull for treatment any newly weaned calf that is slow to come to the bunk to eat.
Sick cattle are generally slow to come to feed.
All cattlemen know this, but few use this observation to their advantage. The best time to look for sick cattle is when you put out feed. If you don't have too many cattle to look after, you can remember which ones were slow and come back and pull them for treatment later. Cattle that have not been eating will often have a little bounce in their abdomen when they walk, and will appear weak. You need to know the first day cattle are slow coming up to eat.