Low Temperatures, Snow and Animals
Winter has been mostly mild so far. Now it has turned colder. But snow and icy cold are not a problem for most livestock. Only moisture causes them difficulties.
A cold winter's day with snow on the ground: the cows are not particularly bothered. They feel perfectly comfortable in the powdery fresh snow. They give the impression of hitting their stride in low temperatures.
«If livestock can shelter from the weather, are healthy and well fed, they can in principle stay outdoors all year round,» says Nina Keil, research associate at the Centre for Proper Housing of Animals at the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO).
A layer of fat also provides protection
Nevertheless, cows, pigs and other livestock can also feel the cold. «This is called cold stress. It can be identified by behaviour such as shivering or raised fur,» says Nina Keil.
When the cold is dry, most of our livestock are highly cold-resistant. «Pigs are late risers — they don’t leave their shelter for the first time until ten or eleven o’clock in the morning,» says Cesare Sciarra, head of the livestock competence centre at Swiss Animal Protection (STS).
Protection from moisture is crucial
«Good weather protection means a dry, wind-sheltered and bedded lying area. All animals in a herd must be able to lie down at the same time,» says Nina Keil.
Larger animals are more resilient
Larger animal species such as horses or cattle are better adapted to the cold than smaller animals such as sheep or goats, due to a more favourable ratio of surface area to volume.
Minus 20 degrees: no problem for the dairy cow
«A dairy cow producing large quantities of milk can cope without difficulty with temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees,» says Sciarra. In winter, the biggest problem is moisture.
Young animals are more susceptible to cold
«Animals are born with few body reserves and relatively fine fur. The older they become and the better nourished they are, the more cold they can tolerate,» says Nina Keil. The Animal Welfare Ordinance regulates the requirements for weather protection in permanent outdoor housing.
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