Thousands of pigs could be killed in Colorado as a result of recent blizzards, Colorado Agriculture Commissioner Don Ament has warned.
He expressed his concerns after hearing reports from farmers in the South Eastern part of the state.
Ament said the storm would likely kill the pigs in collapsed buildings. Also he warned for the fate of cattle suffocated in 4.5 metre-tall snowdrifts. Altogether, he said, there are 40,000 head of livestock included.
The disaster, covering over 40,000 km2, is being responded to by using heavy equipment to clear roads and helicopters to drop hay to livestock.
Governor Bill Owens authorised $2.1 million of emergency funds to support the efforts.