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Breeding / Calving Issues
calves and hypothermia
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<blockquote data-quote="hillsdown" data-source="post: 603646" data-attributes="member: 5106"><p>I made the decision a few years ago to calve in Jan and Feb. And yes calves do much better in -40 with the ground frozen than in -5 in the mush. We have a large pole barn with tons of bedding and also separate calf shelters for the calves. The key is to grab the calves right away when born in -40 temps and get them dried off ,once dry they go back to their moms with a tuque on for a couple of days so the ears do not freeze.</p><p></p><p>It is labor intensive and I am sure it cost more for last years calf crop than the years before. When the weather was really bad ,-48 with the wind chill, I grabbed all the new babies as soon as they were born and put them in the "hot box" we made for them in the shop and they also got colostrum before they could even stand.</p><p></p><p>The upside, I sold my steers the beginning of Sept. before everyone else and got a good price not great but a lot better than what they would have gotten in Oct. or Nov( and they were big they averaged over 700lbs,the heaviest a late Feb calve weighed 795).</p><p></p><p>So the key to doing winter calving is get food in their bellies and get them dry as soon as they pop out. Then with shelter and bedding they should do great..</p><p></p><p>But am I not looking forward to it, the first ones are due Jan. 13 and they are usually a week early..Oh and last night first snow fall of the year and now it is pouring rain.. :?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="hillsdown, post: 603646, member: 5106"] I made the decision a few years ago to calve in Jan and Feb. And yes calves do much better in -40 with the ground frozen than in -5 in the mush. We have a large pole barn with tons of bedding and also separate calf shelters for the calves. The key is to grab the calves right away when born in -40 temps and get them dried off ,once dry they go back to their moms with a tuque on for a couple of days so the ears do not freeze. It is labor intensive and I am sure it cost more for last years calf crop than the years before. When the weather was really bad ,-48 with the wind chill, I grabbed all the new babies as soon as they were born and put them in the "hot box" we made for them in the shop and they also got colostrum before they could even stand. The upside, I sold my steers the beginning of Sept. before everyone else and got a good price not great but a lot better than what they would have gotten in Oct. or Nov( and they were big they averaged over 700lbs,the heaviest a late Feb calve weighed 795). So the key to doing winter calving is get food in their bellies and get them dry as soon as they pop out. Then with shelter and bedding they should do great.. But am I not looking forward to it, the first ones are due Jan. 13 and they are usually a week early..Oh and last night first snow fall of the year and now it is pouring rain.. :? [/QUOTE]
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