- 7 deg F today

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angus9259

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Coldest day of the year so far - I suppose the cattle still like this more than flies. Feel bad for the nursing cows out there - can't believe it's an enjoyable experience getting nursed at this temp.
 
I always wondered how lactating beef cows do through the winter when it gets cold like that. I've got lactating dairy cows outside but they get dipped with a special dip to keep their teats from freezing. Can't figure out how a beef cow can keep from freezing up with all that slobber on their teats after the calf is done.
 
novaman":31gdzwf1 said:
I always wondered how lactating beef cows do through the winter when it gets cold like that. I've got lactating dairy cows outside but they get dipped with a special dip to keep their teats from freezing. Can't figure out how a beef cow can keep from freezing up with all that slobber on their teats after the calf is done.
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Well around here it means some pretty chapped teats on the fall calvers. I feel pretty sorry for them. This was my first and last experiment with fall calving.
 
We are at 40 f today, I will trade you for some cold weather. It is a mucky mess out there ,hope it cools off before I get more calves.
 
novaman":2v1cho4j said:
I always wondered how lactating beef cows do through the winter when it gets cold like that. I've got lactating dairy cows outside but they get dipped with a special dip to keep their teats from freezing. Can't figure out how a beef cow can keep from freezing up with all that slobber on their teats after the calf is done.
Click to expand...

Only had one teat that ever became a problem. Not exactly sure it was even the cold. Just seems like it would be tough on them.
 
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hillsdown":1da4qxkc said:
We are at 40 f today, I will trade you for some cold weather. It is a mucky mess out there ,hope it cools off before I get more calves.
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Agreed. We seemed to skip mud season altogether over here this fall / winter.
 
Hit minus 40 this week.
One Richie froze up but the loader tractor started.
Cows are fine - - they are fat and have a timber windbreak. Fall calves look like little bears.
Bought some thin discounted heifers in December. They don't like the cold but I deep bed them.
 
Mine usually do not have a problem with their teats, but they are also covered in really thick long hair so that helps. The odd one gets a little chapped but not bad enough to stop nursing. I think the calf nursing often helps keep them supple as well as having a thick straw pack to bed down in.



This weather is crazy, we were -40 two weeks ago and are to be in the 30-40's until the end of the week . What a mess .
 
-26 Celcius today . That is ~-15 F. Cows looked like they were doing great. That double coat of the Galloway seems to do great in this climate. Plus they have a three sided pole barn to get out of the weather. They were happy to see new bales of some really nice second cut alfa-alfa / grass mix hay.

I was not so great and didn't finish up moving as much manure I had planned. My fingers were frozen after 10-12 loads.

Last time it went to -30 C, our water line in the barn froze causing the automatic waterer to run dry. I have the waterer fed via a PVC pipe that I have one of those heater things on. Crossing my fingers that it does not happen again. Not fun to have to go out and water your cattle once you have gotten used to the luxury of an automatic waterer! In hindsight, I wish I had paid a professional to trench a line from the house to the cows.
 
novaman":2da8uxl8 said:
I always wondered how lactating beef cows do through the winter when it gets cold like that. I've got lactating dairy cows outside but they get dipped with a special dip to keep their teats from freezing. Can't figure out how a beef cow can keep from freezing up with all that slobber on their teats after the calf is done.
Click to expand...
Mine snuggle down in the snow & protect their teats. Calf's slobber might have a protecting ability. I know it coats my fingers/hands if a calf sucks on me. In all the years we've been here, the only time we had a problem was a coming 2-yr old in the "up close" group, had 1 teat get frost bit on the tip. It sluffed off & was fine by the time she calves (like in a matter of days - with BagBalm on it).
Never had a nursing cow have a problem, so there might be something to the calf sucking.
 
angus9259":10ge4ts7 said:
Those temp swings can kickstart a pneumonia outbreak too.
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Agree! I don't mind winter, comes this time every year. Just prefer it to stay and get it over with then bring on spring when it is supposed to arrive.
 
Last week when the first of our calves were coming it was cold. Today we were above 0 - T-shirt weather, not a cow calving in sight. Cold and snow are to hit again Friday - guess we'll start having calves again then. I could probably sleep until then without missing a single birth.
 
We, also, went from the frigid cold to really really nice out - cloudy, but 30's F. Been getting 1 a day. Two so far today with 8 more possible at any moment.
So far, I've been maxed out putting potentials in at night. Can fit 10 head without crowding and that's what's been going in each night. Calve one out - kick her out next day & find a new one to go in. Of course, I love it when I have a bunch to be checking. Soooo much more fun to check 10-18 than to be checking 1-2. Which will by what Feb & 1st 1/2 of Mar will be like. We had 1/2 our herd due the last 2 weeks in Jan.
 
That's what I was doing this morning Jeanne, kicking out the new mothers and bringing in ones due this weekend. We started the middle of Jan and should be done the middle of Feb except for 2 (that I know of) one on her second calf and our 17 year old. The last Hope you have some nice weather soon. I keep hoping for a nice weekend. We have 7 due on Friday and Saturday, including our embryo calves. Not that they don't come on their due dates anyway. :lol2:
 

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