Livestock Welfare in Extreme Cold

Cold stress in livestock causes significant welfare harm when animals are inadequately sheltered, fed, or managed during severe winter conditions.

Key Facts

Cattle can tolerate temperatures to -15 degrees C with adequate feeding and dry conditions
Wet conditions dramatically increase effective cold stress beyond what temperature alone indicates
Newborn lambs and calves are extremely vulnerable to hypothermia in cold, wet conditions
Feed requirements increase significantly in cold weather — underfed animals cannot maintain body temperature
Adequate shelter reduces cold stress dramatically and is one of the simplest welfare interventions

Welfare Considerations

Cold stress welfare is often underestimated relative to heat stress, but it causes significant suffering in livestock that are inadequately prepared for winter conditions. Hypothermia in newborn lambs and calves is one of the most common and preventable welfare emergencies in cold-climate farming — adequate shelter, attentive calving and lambing surveillance, and supplemental heating for vulnerable newborns prevent deaths that occur on unprepared farms every winter. Adult cattle and sheep are more cold-tolerant with adequate feed and dry conditions, but wet winter conditions significantly increase cold stress even at moderate temperatures. Winter preparedness planning is a welfare priority that deserves explicit attention in farm management.

What You Can Do

Ensure farm animals have access to adequate dry shelter before winter conditions arrive
Increase feed provision during cold weather to support thermoregulation
Monitor newborn lambs and calves closely for hypothermia during cold spells
Prepare supplemental heating options for vulnerable newborns before they are needed
Advocate for cold stress welfare standards in livestock management guidelines