The UK farming community is experienced in handling challenging weather, but recent years have brought an increase in extreme conditions, particularly flooding. If you keep animals, you have a duty of care to protect their welfare during severe weather events, which includes having a contingency plan in place to ensure their safety.
Flooding
If you keep animals outdoors in an area where there is a flood risk, you should make a plan to protect them. This should include:
- Where you’ll move the animals to during a flood.
- How you’ll transport them there.
During and after a flood, sewage, manure and chemicals can pollute water, pasture and feed.
- Monitor your animals closely (especially young ones).
- Get advice from your vet if they drink flood water or eat potentially contaminated feed.
Cold weather
Extreme cold weather can pose a major threat to animal welfare. It is important for animals to have access to shelter, feed and water.
- You must provide feed and water regularly.
- You should have a plan for what to do if feed and water supplies are interrupted.
- Keep water troughs free of ice.
- Take water to animals regularly if pipes or other water supplies are frozen.
- Work with neighbours if feed and water supplies run short or access is difficult.
Horses and ponies kept outside during winter must have access to shelter at all times. Shelter can be natural or man-made. If you cannot provide shelter, you must move them to a place with shelter or permanently stable them.
In England contact your local council (and, in an emergency the RSPCA) for help and advice if you have difficulties getting feed or water to your animals. In Wales contact your Local Authority for advice if you have difficulties getting feed or water to your animals.
Further guidance is available in England at GOV.UK: Keeping farm animals and horses in extreme weather and in Wales at gov.wales: Caring for farm animals and horses in extreme weather
