I see a lot of pics on here of open ended or sided "barns" for cattle. What are the barns for exactly? Up here everyone just more or less has the cattle out in the open. Is  it for rain/ice? Simply curious, it just seems cattle in confinement would have more health issues, more manure handling costs, generally more dirty conditions??? Higher cost?

It must be for warmer winters where it rains and freezes? Correct?

Thanks, just so dang curious is all!!!