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Quick answer: Cold stress happens when winter temperatures fall below an animal's lower critical temperature, forcing it to burn extra energy to stay warm — which lowers milk yield, slows calf growth and raises the risk of pneumonia. In Indian winters the animals most at risk are newborn calves, thin or high-yielding cows, and buffalo, especially when they are wet, in a draught, or short of feed. You prevent it with dry wind-proof housing, extra energy in the ration, warm water, calf blankets and good body condition going into winter.
Every animal has a lower critical temperature (LCT) — the point below which it must spend energy generating heat instead of making milk or growing. A dry-coated adult cow is comfortable to near-freezing, but a wet coat, wind or a poor body condition score raises the LCT sharply, so cold stress can begin on damp, windy nights well above 0°C. In North India's December–January cold spells, and in hill and desert regions, dairy animals routinely feel this stress. Planning your winter set-up now, in early autumn, is the cheapest way to protect yield.
Wind and wet cause far more cold stress than still, cold air. Block draughts with side curtains, gunny sheeting or a wind-break, but keep the roof ridge open for ventilation so ammonia and moisture escape. Provide deep, dry bedding (straw or paddy husk) — a dry lying surface is the single biggest comfort factor for calves and buffalo.
The heat of digesting fibre keeps animals warm, so offer extra good-quality forage and dry fodder in winter, and lift energy density for high yielders and fresh cows. Ensure minerals and vitamins are adequate for immunity and metabolism — a chelated mineral mixture such as Cattle Remedies Verymin helps fill winter gaps, and appetite support like Grazup keeps intake up in the cold. See our best mineral mixture for cattle guide to choose the right one.
Animals drink less when water is icy, and low intake cuts milk and feed use. Offer clean water at a comfortable temperature, ideally more than once a day, and keep troughs from freezing in the coldest regions.
Calves have almost no fat reserve and chill fast. Ensure prompt, generous colostrum, use a dry pen with extra bedding and a calf jacket in cold zones, and watch closely for early cough or scours. Good calcium and metabolic support around calving — for example Cattle Remedies Chelated Calcicril — helps fresh cows and their calves start strong. If a winter cough appears, our respiratory aid CufCRIL can support recovery alongside veterinary care.
Cows entering winter thin have a higher LCT and less reserve. Build adequate body condition in autumn so animals have insulation and energy to spare.
A healthy dry-coated cow tolerates near-freezing air, but a wet coat or wind raises her lower critical temperature, so cold stress can begin on damp, windy nights several degrees above freezing. Calves and buffalo feel it sooner than adult cows.
Yes. Under cold stress animals eat more but milk yield still falls, because energy is redirected to keeping warm. Warm housing, extra energy feed and warm water limit the loss.
Give plenty of colostrum quickly, keep them in a dry, draught-free pen with deep bedding, use a calf jacket in very cold areas, and treat any cough or scours early with your vet.
This article is for general guidance only. For sick, very weak or hypothermic animals, and for any medication, consult a qualified veterinarian. Content by Cattle Remedies (Makams Industries).
References: University of Minnesota Extension, Managing dairy cattle in cold weather; Indian Journal of Animal Research, Mitigating Cold Stress in Livestock by Nutritional Management.
