It doesn’t matter whether outside temperatures are freezing or sweltering, livestock must have adequate fresh water to stay healthy. In fact, their health – and life – depend on it. Without sufficient water, feed can’t move through the animal’s digestive tract, which is potentially deadly.
Cattle generally can handle extreme winter temperatures, but certain conditions can put them in danger of hypothermia and frostbite. Wet, windy weather and inadequate forage can make cattle vulnerable to cold stress when temperatures plunge.