Pookie,
I agree with everyone else. One thing you can recommend has to do with the cattle. Tell him that he can put a rubber ball (large) in the water and where ever the ball is the water will not freeze. the animals push the ball out of the way to drink and PRESTO...the cows have water. If he says that it is stupid, just let him know that other people with cattle and horses do this in the winter so the animals have water to drink.
Mary