Bovina, Texas, sits in the heart of the High Plains, surrounded by well-known feedlots such as the Friona-owned facility, one of six in the region, and closer to Amarillo-anchored operations. Large feed yards around Bovina easily hold tens of thousands of cattle. But feeding cattle on these windswept plains also means facing unpredictable weather, operational hazards, and theft. For farmers and feeders around Bovina, National Livestock Insurance has designed a specific Feedlot Cattle Insurance policy that fits this environment, which protects the value of your cattle when nature, accident, or theft threatens.
This policy is focused solely on covering cattle that die from listed risks. Payouts are based on the valuation schedule, ensuring cattle are insured at market value, beef or feeder steer, heifer, or other classification. If a cow dies from a covered risk, the claim aligns with the current valuation schedule. That means you’re not left covering a major loss or relying on salvage value.
The risks covered are fire, lightning, windstorm, flood, drowning, building collapse, theft, vandalism, and snow smothering during jolting Bovina storms. Optional coverage items include hypothermia, contaminated feed or water, and carcass removal, each chosen to reflect specific challenges cattle feeders face in this region.
Bovina and its surrounding area lie squarely in West Texas’s semi-arid zone. Summers routinely climb into the low 90s or above. During hot months, especially June through August, humidity and heat stress pose health threats to penned cattle. Without protective measures, shade structures, plenty of water, and cool airflows, heat can kill. Acute death from heatstroke is rare, but ensuing losses from stress-related disease aren’t.
Flash floods happen here, too. Although annual rainfall is relatively low, convective storms drop a sudden deluge. Feedlot yards can fill with water, trenches overflow, and pens submerge overnight. A 2023 flood in Hereford, not far from Bovina, caused an estimated 4,000 head of cattle to be lost at a single yard. Floods in Bovina can kill when cattle drown or are pinned under structures swept away. Our policy covers the mortality value of drowned stock.
Winter weather is part of the Bovina experience as well. The High Plains can swing from warm fall days into sudden snow and arctic fronts. When heavy wet snow drifts through open pens, cattle risk suffocation, referred to as “smothering.” Historical data shows Texas Panhandle blizzards have wiped out a fifth of cattle in some years, reaching tens of thousands lost.
Lightning and fire are frequent in volatile wet-dry summers. A single bolt can strike a barn, igniting a blaze that quickly kills penned cattle. A lightning strike to a building’s metal structure in a lightning event can wipe out cows in a single strike. Similarly, tornadoes or straight-line winds can collapse barns or pen fences and fatally injure animals.
Building collapse itself is an issue during extreme weather or due to weakened building materials. A big windstorm, hail laden with county hail, heavy snow, or neglect can topple a feed bay or feeder, sometimes killing or crushing cattle. Again, that loss from collapse is covered under this policy.
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Hypothermia isn’t always visible until collapse. Cold snaps can arrive overnight, especially late fall or early spring, exposing cattle to temperatures they can’t withstand. That’s why hypothermia death coverage is critical, and it steps in when cattle die from sudden cold exposure.
Contaminated feed or water, think a broken trough filled with runoff, algae bloom in a stock tank, or even pesticide drift, can lead to cattle death. The contaminated feed/water rider covers those losses when cattle die after ingesting dangerous feeds or water. With thousands of pounds of feed stored onsite, a bad batch isn’t far-fetched.
Carcass removal helps you clean up after a loss without unexpected expense, especially when hundreds of pounds of livestock need disposal quickly. It’s not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Large feedlots like Friona’s, processing tens of thousands of head annually, can face compliance issues without proper disposal policies.
This insurance doesn’t excuse neglect. To file a successful claim, feeders need to adhere to best practices: maintain pen drainage, inspect buildings, protect structures from extreme weather, clean feed and water tanks, monitor weather conditions, stage emergency plans for storms, and take care when transporting cattle.
Trailers should be ventilated, show plywood walls, non-slip floors, and provide space. Drivers should watch temperature, moisture, and stop when heat or cold stress is possible. Insurance covers death during transport from covered perils, if your care is appropriate.
National Livestock Insurance isn’t a distant underwriter. We’ve specialized in livestock insurance since 1972, with local Amarillo agents who live the High Plains lifestyle. We understand Bovina’s weather patterns, feedlot rhythms, cattle needs, and farming values. We inspect your yard, recommend riders based on feedlot volume, infrastructure, and operation size.
Our backing from The Hartford—A+ rated by Best’s—ensures our promises are solid. When you file a claim, the valuation schedule is honored, adjusters handle it efficiently, and payouts are solid and timely.
Without mortality coverage, your feedlot investment is vulnerable. Each dead animal represents days of attributed feed, yard space used, and loss of revenue. Losing dozens or hundreds in a flood or blizzard can derail your year.
Paying for mortality coverage is a fraction of a penny per pound of beef. But the payout can help you buy replacement animals, repair pens, improve water systems, and turn disaster into recovery.
If you're ready to protect your feedlot as conditions shift, talk with our local agents. We’ll meet you in Bovina, walk your pens, assess exposure, review feed bins and water tanks, inspect drainage, and talk transport routes. We’ll suggest riders such as hypothermia, contaminated feed, and carcass removal, which make sense for your setup.
Once you have a policy in place, we stay involved: seasonal check-ins, reminders before storm season, feed water testing alerts, and valuation updates as your herd changes. We’re not just the insurer, we’re your partner.
Feedlot life on the High Plains isn't easy. You face heat, storms, snow, theft, and water risks. But with tailored Feedlot Cattle Insurance from National Livestock Insurance, you get coverage that matters. Payouts align with cattle values, and riders offer protection when contamination, cold, or structural collapse kill livestock.
When weather turns, equipment fails, or theft hits, you get support backed by a century of experience and The Hartford’s financial strength. Your cattle, your feedlot, and your livelihood deserve that kind of dependable insurance.
Contact us today to build your feedlot safety net in Bovina. Because when cattle go down, you shouldn’t be left holding the bag.
Protecting Your Livestock, Securing Your Future
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