Farm animals during winter cold events face welfare challenges from inadequate shelter, frozen water, and energy demands from cold exposure.
Farm animals in extreme cold experience welfare harms from inadequate shelter, frozen water supplies, and energy deficit from cold stress. Newborn calves in outdoor calving operations during winter experience potentially fatal hypothermia. Cattle standing in cold mud develop foot problems. Pigs, which have less cold tolerance than cattle, require heated housing in cold climates. The welfare of farm animals in cold events is closely linked to management quality and the provision of appropriate shelter, bedding, and unfrozen water access.