Cold stress in livestock is primarily caused by exposure to which condition?

• A. High temperatures
• B. Absence of shelter
• C. Low temperatures
• D. High humidity

Answer: (C)

Cold stress happens when livestock cannot keep their body warm because the surrounding temperature is too low. When temperatures drop, heat naturally escapes from the body faster than it can be produced, especially if wind or moisture increases heat loss. The animal must burn more energy to generate heat to stay warm, which can reduce feed efficiency and growth if the cold persists. Providing shelter and windbreaks helps reduce exposure to those low temperatures and slows heat loss, alleviating the stress.

High temperatures cause heat stress, not cold stress. Absence of shelter is a factor that can worsen cold exposure but is not the direct environmental condition that triggers cold stress. High humidity influences how heat is lost but is not the primary cause of cold stress; the key driver is the ambient cold temperature.