How can cold stress be reduced?

• A. Shelter and feed
• B. Shade and water
• C. Ventilation only
• D. Exercise more

Answer: (A)

Cold stress happens when animals lose more heat than they can generate. The most effective way to reduce it is to both minimize heat loss and boost the energy available to produce warmth. Providing shelter protects from cold winds and precipitation and helps keep animals dry, which lowers heat loss. Offering adequate, energy-rich feed gives the animals the calories they need to generate body heat and maintain body condition in cold weather.

Shade and water are more about preventing heat stress in hot conditions, ventilation alone can cause additional heat loss in cold conditions, and exercising more increases energy use, which can actually worsen cold stress.