Life is risky.
You who think the ranchers should build shelters or snow fencing (what?) may never have lived in the West, probably have never seen, much less participated in, a real cattle drive, do not know what is involved in livestock management, and have no idea of the distances and numbers involved. We are not talking about a run-in shed for half a dozen horses on ten acres. Believe me when I tell you that the ranchers are not uncaring and do not deliberately treat their animals in a cavalier fashion because they think government insurance will cover them. They are not in control of when their animals’ winter coats come in, which is regulated by the length of the days. Finding and driving cattle in huge distances is difficult enough in good weather, but in a blizzard it is not going to happen. Neither horses, trucks, ATVs, nor helicopters (which ranchers often use for serious drives) are going to work in blizzards.