Footage shows a chilly camel with balls of ice dangling from its beard.

The hapless animal was in its corral with dozens of ice balls formed on its fur during minus 20 degrees Celsius weather in Xinjiang, China, on December 18.

In the video, the animal can be seen struggling to move in its enclosure because of the heavy ice accumulated around its neck.

The herder said: 'Water dripped onto the camel's neck while it was drinking and froze due to the extreme cold, coupled with the length of its neck fur.

'We removed it so it can walk and move comfortably,' he added.

China's winters, lasting from late November to March, are notoriously harsh and cold, marked by strong winds, dry air, and sporadic frost and snow.