Benefits of shade and shelter for beef and dairy cattle

Being kept on pasture provides beef and dairy cattle with the opportunity to perform their normal behaviours such as grazing and giving them a choice over which food to eat and where to rest, thereby promoting positive mental experiences and welfare. However, being outdoors also exposes them to a variety of environmental conditions, from humid, hot weather in summer to cold, wet, and windy weather in winter. Provision of shade and shelter is therefore important to protect cattle welfare.

In many pasture-based farming systems, shade or shelter for cattle may be provided by way of vegetation, topography such as rocks and ridges, and by other animals (i.e. animals grouping together). Farmers may use other ways to minimise the effects of adverse weather, such as providing more water in summer or extra feed in the winter. However, these methods can be insufficient to provide animals with a good physical environment and a positive experience.

Artificial shelters in the form of shade cloth, huts, sheds, or barns can also be provided in outdoor farming systems to help improve animal welfare. In addition, trees and shelterbelts will help provide appropriate shade and shelter for cattle.

SPCA Certified standards for beef and dairy cattle explicitly require access to shade and shelter for cattle at all times so the animals can manage their own temperature requirements to avoid discomfort and heat and cold stress. This goes further than the legal minimum standards.

Shade and shelter can have multiple benefits for cattle beyond helping them manage their body temperature. For example, trees and other shade/shelter structures available in paddocks provide opportunities for cattle to scratch and groom, the provision of which is another requirement of the SPCA Certified standards.

See the two infographics below to learn more about the many benefits of providing shade and shelter for dairy and beef cattle.

If you are a dairy or beef farmer interested in finding out more about becoming SPCA Certified, reach out to our friendly team at certified@spca.nz.