During the winter of 2009–2010, 80% of the country's territory was covered with a snow blanket of 200–600mm (7-24 inches). In the Uvs aimag, extreme cold (night temperature of −48 °C / −54 °F) remained for almost 50 days. 9,000 families lost their entire herds while a further 33,000 suffered 50% loss. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry reported 2,127,393 head of livestock were lost as of 9 February 2010 (188,270 horse, cattle, camel and 1,939,123 goat and sheep). The agriculture ministry predicted that livestock losses might reach 4 million before the end of winter. But by May 2010, the United Nations reported that eight million, or about 17% of the country's entire livestock, had died.