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Inside Out

Don’t Worry About Those Animals

Jeanna Sager
Posted 1/7/25

Chances are you’ve driven around the county of late with heat blowing at full blast from the vents in your vehicle, a thick parka wrapped around you to fight the bitter cold.  

Maybe …

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Inside Out

Don’t Worry About Those Animals

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Chances are you’ve driven around the county of late with heat blowing at full blast from the vents in your vehicle, a thick parka wrapped around you to fight the bitter cold. 

Maybe you’ve even topped it all off with a scarf and gloves, or perhaps they’re on the seat beside you, ready to be donned again when you reach your destination. 

If you’re in certain sectors of the county, you’ve traveled this way past local farms only to notice many of their animals are still outside in the sort of weather that’s turned us all into the human equivalent of the Stay-Puft marshmallow man. 

If you didn’t grow up here in farm country, you may be thinking the worst. 

Here’s the good news — your local farmer has already thought of that, and they’re at least five steps ahead of you. 

They’ve carefully chosen the locations where their animals are wintering and set up windbreaks to protect them. They’re checking water frequently to ensure it’s fresh and free of ice. They’re balancing the amount of food to account for increased calories expended by livestock working to maintain their body temperature. 

They may also have set up easy-access shelter, giving the animal the choice of whether to stay outside in the elements or wander inside to escape the snow and sleet, and they’re likely monitoring snow and ice build-up in the field or paddock. 

Animals are not like us, nor are all animals alike. 

While your average dog or cat needs to be kept inside, save for the time spent outside for potty breaks, many farm animals are well equipped for the sort of cold that sends us running for the heater. 

Take your average cow. Provided they’ve built up their heavy winter coat, they can typically withstand temperatures of 20 degrees or even lower without a thought (or any discomfort). 

Depending on its hair and the conditions, many horses can handle temperatures even lower. 

If you see something that seems wildly out of the ordinary, certainly it’s worth saying something. But “livestock was outside in the cold” doesn’t count. 

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