Pleasant Gap Christian Church Invites you to their Christmas Eve Worship Service

The Pleasant Gap Christian Church invites the public to the Christmas Eve Worship Service. The doors open at 7pm and refreshments will be served following the service. The Pleasant Gap Christian church is located 9 miles east of 52 highway. To “O” highway, turn south on “O” and go three miles to the church. That’s the December 24th Christmas Eve Worship Service at the Pleasant Gap Christian Church .

Care Connection closing senior centers Friday for weather

All of Care Connection’s senior centers will be closed Friday, December 23rd for indoor dining and other in-person services because of a forecast for sub-zero temperatures, strong winds, and the potential for snow and ice. The National Weather Service has forecast temperatures to be below zero in most of the 13 West Central Missouri counties that the agency serves.

Center staff members are preparing to deliver extra meals for homebound clients.

The National Weather Service predicts low temperatures of minus-5 with highs in the single digits for Friday. Some areas will see snow and harsh winds, creating dangerous blizzard conditions.

Prepare cattle for frigid temperatures

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Extremely cold weather is forecast for the days before Christmas, putting cattle at risk. Temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit are predicted, with the wind chill factor much lower in parts of Missouri.

As temperatures drop, producers need to ensure their cattle are kept safe in the harsh weather, said University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey.

When the temperature is below the lower critical temperature (LCT), a cow in adequate body condition with a heavy winter coat will use energy to maintain body temperature, Bailey said. When the wind chill dips below 19 F, cattle need extra energy to keep warm. They will eat more and need higher-quality feed to compensate for the cold.

“If cattle are still grazing stockpiled tall fescue, producers should consider feeding 0.5% of their body weight per day in supplement to provide extra energy during the extreme cold,” he said. “For a 1,200-pound beef cow, that’s 6 pounds of supplement each day. If feeding hay, put out higher-quality-than-average hay, and consider feeding the same amount of supplement as mentioned previously.”

Providing bedding or a dry place for cattle to lie down is very important in cold weather. Bulls can sustain long-term damage to fertility if forced to lie on frozen ground. Giving cattle a place to get out of the wind can also help them stay warm.

Lastly, Bailey said to keep waterers thawed as best you can. This can be difficult, especially in extreme temperatures. Mature beef cattle require up to 30 gallons of water per day.

For more information, producers can view “Caring for Cattle in Cold Weather,” a webinar hosted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension beef specialist Rick Rasby, at beef.unl.edu/cattleincoldweather.

Bailey said following these guidelines will help ensure the safety of cattle so they can continue to produce high-quality beef.