Conclusion
Legal regulations and the requirement for animal-friendly suckler cow husbandry demand adequate protection against adverse weather conditions for suckler cows and their calves. Situations involving exposure to cold can be managed with the help of weather protection, dry lying areas and animals in good physical condition and health. There should be several sheltered areas, thereby reducing problems arising from social behaviour and ensuring that all animals have access to weather protection at all times of the day. A continuous supply of feed and water for the animals is required, which must be guaranteed even in adverse weather conditions – management adjustments. Animals must be checked regularly to identify any adaptive reactions and changes in behaviour and to be able to respond accordingly. The following winter checklist can be used by livestock keepers to prepare for the outdoor rearing of suckler cows and their calves (either part-time or year-round). Internal farm checks, as required under Section 11(8) of the Animal Welfare Act, could also be based on this checklist:
| Checkpoints | Target |
| Housing | |
| Weather protection | A bedded-down, preferably dry, wind-protected resting area of sufficient size |
| Watering trough | Frost-proof |
| Feeding equipment | Rain protection |
| Herd management | |
| Young cattle rearing | Outdoor rearing |
| Condition | Reserves in autumn |
| Animal health | Only healthy animals |
| Calving season | Spring |
| Location | |
| Macro- and trace element supply | Nutrient levels tailored to requirements during growth |
<figcaption>Table 13: Winter checklist, adapted from the KTBL guide (2010)</figcaption>
In the long term, suitable animal-based indicators should be developed to implement on-farm self-monitoring in accordance with Section 11(8) of the Animal Welfare Act.