Well, we were supposed to be getting a snowstorm right about now. Instead of that, the storm shifted north some. So, now we are getting an ice storm. I don't like snow too much, dislike mud, but I hate ice. It makes getting around pretty much impossible. Its bad enough you can hardly walk, (everyone is walking around like penguins lol). It doesn't affect our milk cows much since they are in the barn this time of year. Our older heifers have a bedded shed to go in, but they come out to eat and drink water from their waterer. There lot was an icy mess tonight. As hard as it is for us humans to walk on ice, its a lot harder for cattle who can easily slip and break a leg, hip or hurt themselves badly. So we sanded there outside yard really good to give them some traction so they can safely get around. Then it was on to the next problem the ice was causing. Our tractor that is pulling the tmr (feed mixer) also has trouble getting around on ice. It wont hurt it self like the cattle, but it doesn't move to well on it. To fix this, we put chains on the tires. With these on it can go anywhere again. We only needed to put chains on the back tires so far, but I remember a couple years ago we had chains on the back as well as the front wheels it was so bad.
Finally our cattle were fed and safe. Next issue, us humans were having a hard time walking or staying up-right for that matter. As in most cases, we make sure our animals, our livelihood, are taken care of first. To help us get around, my dad spread sand around the buildings. We switched to sand bedding for the cows a couple years ago, so luckily we have a lot of sand around.
The final problem ice sometimes creates is when the trees and power lines get so much on them, they fall down creating power outages. So far, that has not been the case this time luckily. If the power does go out, our farm has a backup generator we can start. I'm really hoping it doesn't get that bad.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Calving Day
Today was a very exciting day on our farm. We had 5 calves born today. This was the result of a group of heifers we synchronized. We actually synched 6 total at this one time, but the other 1 hasn't calved yet but is getting close. Normally when we do this, they calve over the course of a week or so, since cattle gestation can very a few days, just like humans. This time however, five of this group decided today was the day. I noticed the first 2 this morning were really close. They both calved on their own with no assistance from us needed. Our cows calve in a pen bedded with straw. We let the mother lick her calf off then shortly after make sure the baby gets its first milk called colostrum.
About noon I checked on the other mothers to be. One was starting to calve. I watched her from a distance, and soon she too had her baby by herself. I moved her and the calf to a pen by themselves because the other heifers in the pen thought they should try and claim the calf too. While doing this, I noticed another of the heifers keeping to herself in the corner of the pen. She was also starting to "drip" milk from her udder, both tell-tale signs that labor is close. I had to make a run to town for a minute, but called my sister to come keep an eye on her. On my way back to the farm, my sister called and said the heifer's labor wasn't progressing. So, I told her I was almost there. When I got there, she was washing up the heifer's backside and getting ready to check her and see what the hold up was. The heifers cervix was fully dilated, the calf was in the right direction, but one of its legs was bent under it. With the calf in this position, it was unable to come out. She was able to reposition it and with a little help the calf was out in no time. We had another healthy heifer calf. Every time a calf is born healthy I say a little than you. So many things can go wrong, and we are very thankful when things turn out well. So, we helped the new momma clean up her baby, then milked her and fed the calf.
Well, that was 4, and like I said earlier, we still had one to go today to make 5. After milking tonight, I did my barn walk through to check on everyone. The new babies were doing great, and were up and jumping around already. When I walked by the maternity pens, I noticed another heifer was acting strange. She was laying down and pushing, would stand up then lay down again. I was a little suspicious of this, and decided I'd better check her and make sure the calf was positioned right. I know some people say you shouldn't intervene too early, but I like to check them and at least make sure the calf is positioned right early on. That way, if there is a problem you have some time to figure things out. I went and put on a breeding glove, lubed my hand and went in to check her out. Everything was in the right position, but the calf was pretty big and she was having trouble pushing it out. I put the straps on the calf's front legs and helped the heifer out by pulling while she pushed. After trying this for a while I decided I needed a little more help, so I attached the calf puller. I also put lube in my gloved hand and put some inside the heifer to make the calf slide easier before I started using the puller. As the heifer pushed, I would jack the puller a little more. Soon the head popped out and the calf was out. I brought the calf up to the heifer and she started licking it right away. Kinda as a last step to the process, I always do a quick check for a twin in the cow. We seem to have a higher percentage of twins on our farm than a normal average. Thus, my dad has always told me to check, even though a heifer with this big of calf is unlikely to have a second calf in there, anything is possible. So, this heifer got one last "exam", but as expected I found no twin.
So, we had a busy day, but as I mentioned earlier, as long as everything turns out OK, we are thankful and don't mind the extra work at all.
About noon I checked on the other mothers to be. One was starting to calve. I watched her from a distance, and soon she too had her baby by herself. I moved her and the calf to a pen by themselves because the other heifers in the pen thought they should try and claim the calf too. While doing this, I noticed another of the heifers keeping to herself in the corner of the pen. She was also starting to "drip" milk from her udder, both tell-tale signs that labor is close. I had to make a run to town for a minute, but called my sister to come keep an eye on her. On my way back to the farm, my sister called and said the heifer's labor wasn't progressing. So, I told her I was almost there. When I got there, she was washing up the heifer's backside and getting ready to check her and see what the hold up was. The heifers cervix was fully dilated, the calf was in the right direction, but one of its legs was bent under it. With the calf in this position, it was unable to come out. She was able to reposition it and with a little help the calf was out in no time. We had another healthy heifer calf. Every time a calf is born healthy I say a little than you. So many things can go wrong, and we are very thankful when things turn out well. So, we helped the new momma clean up her baby, then milked her and fed the calf.
Well, that was 4, and like I said earlier, we still had one to go today to make 5. After milking tonight, I did my barn walk through to check on everyone. The new babies were doing great, and were up and jumping around already. When I walked by the maternity pens, I noticed another heifer was acting strange. She was laying down and pushing, would stand up then lay down again. I was a little suspicious of this, and decided I'd better check her and make sure the calf was positioned right. I know some people say you shouldn't intervene too early, but I like to check them and at least make sure the calf is positioned right early on. That way, if there is a problem you have some time to figure things out. I went and put on a breeding glove, lubed my hand and went in to check her out. Everything was in the right position, but the calf was pretty big and she was having trouble pushing it out. I put the straps on the calf's front legs and helped the heifer out by pulling while she pushed. After trying this for a while I decided I needed a little more help, so I attached the calf puller. I also put lube in my gloved hand and put some inside the heifer to make the calf slide easier before I started using the puller. As the heifer pushed, I would jack the puller a little more. Soon the head popped out and the calf was out. I brought the calf up to the heifer and she started licking it right away. Kinda as a last step to the process, I always do a quick check for a twin in the cow. We seem to have a higher percentage of twins on our farm than a normal average. Thus, my dad has always told me to check, even though a heifer with this big of calf is unlikely to have a second calf in there, anything is possible. So, this heifer got one last "exam", but as expected I found no twin.
So, we had a busy day, but as I mentioned earlier, as long as everything turns out OK, we are thankful and don't mind the extra work at all.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Spring Time in Winter?
Springtime in the middle of Winter, well as much as that sounds like a oxymoron (ever since learning that word in 2nd grade I love using it) it does seem like the case this Winter. With the exception of snowmobilers. skiers ect, Most of the people I have talked to like this weather. As far as on the farm, it is nice in some ways. It takes less feed for our cattle because they don't need to eat as much to keep warm. We also have less trouble with pipes, hoses, and equipment freezing up. There is also less time spent plowing snow, leaving us with more time to spend working on equipment for next spring.
With these points made, there are some downsides to warmer weather in winter too. With warm weather comes mud. Our cattle are not much affected by mud because they are on clean solid surfaces that are well bedded with sand and straw. It does take a lot more bedding to keep there areas clean however when its warmer. Probably the biggest draw-back to this weather is there is more chance of cattle getting sick. When we have these sudden warmups, snow melts quickly. This causes damp humid air, which is not the best environment for cattle (or humans) for that matter. I've found, that cows seem to be the healthiest when the temps are around the 20-30 degree range with lower humidity. Now for us humans, that seems pretty cold to be out in. But, as long as cows are well fed,clean, dry, and out of the wind they do just fine with these temps. The worst thing that can happen is huge temperature swings. As i'm typing this it is 8 degrees, it was 47 a few days ago. Cattle, like us favor gradual temperature changes. Respiratory sickness is most common with these sudden temp changes. We have been pretty lucky so far with only a few cases of pneumonia however.
So, as nice as springtime in winter sounds, I'd just as soon have a normal Winter, then spring when it should happen.
With these points made, there are some downsides to warmer weather in winter too. With warm weather comes mud. Our cattle are not much affected by mud because they are on clean solid surfaces that are well bedded with sand and straw. It does take a lot more bedding to keep there areas clean however when its warmer. Probably the biggest draw-back to this weather is there is more chance of cattle getting sick. When we have these sudden warmups, snow melts quickly. This causes damp humid air, which is not the best environment for cattle (or humans) for that matter. I've found, that cows seem to be the healthiest when the temps are around the 20-30 degree range with lower humidity. Now for us humans, that seems pretty cold to be out in. But, as long as cows are well fed,clean, dry, and out of the wind they do just fine with these temps. The worst thing that can happen is huge temperature swings. As i'm typing this it is 8 degrees, it was 47 a few days ago. Cattle, like us favor gradual temperature changes. Respiratory sickness is most common with these sudden temp changes. We have been pretty lucky so far with only a few cases of pneumonia however.
So, as nice as springtime in winter sounds, I'd just as soon have a normal Winter, then spring when it should happen.
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