Cattle and horses in Alberta may be in danger of dying because of a lack of snow, said a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals official.
“Lack of water can kill in a couple of days. Lack of feed can take weeks,” said Doug Rombough, enforcement co-ordinator for northern Alberta.
Rombough said the SPCA hasn’t seen any cattle or horses that have died from dehydration yet this season, but it is a serious concern.
“It’s more of a heads up,” said Rombough.
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Many livestock producers provide limited water for their cattle and horses in the winter because the animals get moisture from snow while they forage for feed.
But recent warm weather may have melted or iced over the remaining snow cover.
“Thousands of horses and some cattle rely on snow for winter moisture,” Rombough said.
Dehydration happens within days. The livestock can have sunken eyes and two days later be dead, he said.
Cattle need at least eight litres of moisture per day in the winter.
“That’s a lot to expect from hoar frost.”
Rombough said livestock owners should monitor the situation and make sure their animals receive adequate water. Alberta’s Animal Protection Act makes it an offence to allow an animal to be or continue to be in distress.
