Calving in a blizzard

[Faster horses]

I'll tell you one thing, tlakota:

Those who try, NEVER FAIL. Those that fail, never try.
We can only do, what we can do. No cow is worth a life.

You are out there trying. Hang in there, it will get better.
Good luck to you!

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now.

 

[tlakota]

and i think this mineral is doing some magic...i havent pulled a calf yet and im sure its helping these calves right about now...how is everything in northeren nebraska wyoming and montana?...im feeling for you guys west river too and everybody in north dakota...i was only 8 years old during the winter of 96-97 but this is sure turning on like it....everything floods then couple days later get a nasty blizzard...granted we havent had quite as much snow as that year but its been a harsh enough winter on everything...i keep telling dad...this summer could get ugly...seems like when we get all this moisture...things will turn and we will be bone dry...BUT oh my is the grass going to be coming

 

[Faster horses]

Yep. The mineral sure helps and the biggest help is in the quality of the colostrum. That's what gives the calves such a good start and enhances their immune system. So important that the cows are on a good mineral program during the winter. The vigorous calves you are seeing is why the our mineral is called Vigortone!!! And along with our own observation, our customers tell us they see the calves really eating the mineral, even when very young.

It seems every odd year here, is better than the even years. Since this is '09 I have high hopes for a good summer.

Now I wish I had that same hope for us as a country!!!

 

[Richard Doolittle]

Hang in there tlakota! Two blizzards a week apart were pretty miserable here, but at least we're not dealing with flooding issues at the same time. Stay safe and hope everything stays healthy.

It's the time of the week to keep a look on the horizon again. Here's a quote from the NWS:

ANOTHER STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL EXIT THE ROCKIES FRIDAY NIGHT AND
MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL OR SOUTHERN PLAINS SATURDAY. UNCERTAINTY
EXISTS WITH THE TRACK OF THIS STORM...BUT IT MAY PRODUCE HEAVY
SNOWS OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN WYOMING AND SOUTHERN SOUTH
DAKOTA. STAY TUNED.

I hope we have a jet stream shift soon, because this is getting ridiculous.

 

[WB]

Hang in there TLAKOTA. I know how you feel. After the April blizzard in 97 I came in and told the Mrs. that this just isn't worth it to work so hard and all you seem to do is come up short. She encouraged me and told me that there were better days ahead. Guess what she was right. The thing that I took from that experience is what could I have done better/different to have a more positive outcome? Now when we have a storm approching during calving I am more apt to be prepared. Being on a good mineral program is a must in calving under these conditions.

 

[Denny]

We got about 6 inches of wet snow today. It has stopped for the time being.It's 36 degree's right now. I made a 3 acre storm lot last fall so I just feed in there and only have a small area to check thru. The cow's out in the woods dureing a storm normally have a dead calf by the time you find them. Around here guy's who calve early are most generally set up for it so storms are more of an inconvienance..

We've got 3 pairs in the barn and a bunch out in the wood's on a hay pack.

 

[Anonymous]

4/1/2009 7:53:00 AM


Reuters: Snow And Flood Threaten North Dakota Cattle Herd



SASKATOON, Saskatchewan (Reuters) - A deadly combination of floods, heavy snow and cold in the midst of calving season threatens to thin North Dakota's cattle herd.



A winter storm covered much of the state's southern areas Tuesday, and the National Weather Service was forecasting snowfall of between 10 and 20 inches by Wednesday. Overnight lows for the capital Bismarck are forecast to be well below freezing through Friday.



Calves, especially newborns, are in danger of hypothermia and some farmers are struggling to get feed and water to livestock, said the North Dakota Agriculture Department.



The swollen Red River Valley has few livestock farms, but western North Dakota -- where most of the cattle herd is based -- has also seen flooding and heavy snow. North Dakota ranks 17th among states in cattle production, with 2 million head.



So far, there have been only isolated reports of several hundred cattle deaths. But far greater losses could be in store, based on past flood years. North Dakota lost 120,000 head of cattle in the 1996-97 year, mainly because of severe April flooding followed by a blizzard.



The losses this year will likely be less than half that total despite the unusually harsh conditions, said Jim Jost, program specialist with the U.S. Agriculture Department's Farm Service Agency. Flooding in 1997 was more widespread, Jost said.



Dr. Charlie Stoltenow, a veterinarian and associate professor at North Dakota State University, said it was impossible to gauge how high losses will be. Ranchers are in the middle of calving season and many don't own barns to shelter their animals.



"We're going to suffer major calf losses, I don't think there's any two ways around that," Stoltenow said.



If heavy snow and cold weather last long enough, cattle deaths "could be catastrophic," he said. He estimates with current forecasts, 15,000 to 25,000 head of cattle may die.

 

[Faster horses]

Terrible, just terrible. Late April and May calving is looking better all the time. We've been pretty lucky here with only 6" (approx.) of snow total. South of Baker it's a different story. One of our customers stopped last night: they have had 100 inches of snow since Nov. and got 18" in these last two storms. But they've gotten along ok. Healthy vigorous calves! :wink:

 

[tlakota]

ive lost 2 newborns and a calf that was a couple days old...i am actually feeling ok, it coulda been worse...have had 4 calves since yesterday afternoon in midst of blizzard and those 4 seem to be ok...i WILL win mother nature