Ranching in the Cold - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Keeping yourself warm when the temperature drops far below zero can be a challenge.

But imagine keeping yourself and 500 other bodies toasty warm in the dead of winter.

Ag Reporter Sarah Gustin takes you to the farm to show you the extra work it takes to keep every body warm when the bitter cold strikes.

No matter how far the thermometer drops--chores have to be done.

Perry Moser has been raising cattle his entire life and has come to expect a few bitterly cold days every winter.

(Perry Moser / Rancher) "It hasn't actually been too bad of a winter. We have had ups and downs, which isn't too good for feeding these cattle. The warm temperatures and the cold temperatures. On the cold days up the rations a little bit, which they need it."

Moser says the cattle are tougher than you might think...

(Perry Moser / Rancher) "If you can get them out of the wind and keep feed in front of them they'll take a lot. They are pretty thick hided." 

He says it's the machinery that has trouble handling the cold.

(Perry Moser / Rancher) "Probably the biggest challenges are the waters, the drinkers. I got by pretty lucky yesterday. Only 1 of the four froze up. I spent two hours thawing that out, but working with the machinery. When it's 20 below, or 19 below out nothing works quite right. Everything is slow. The hydraulics are slow, you just got to be a little more careful because that iron doesn't take the cold weather as well. "

(Sarah Gustin / sgustin@kxnet.com) "Moser says wind protection, straw and extra feed are the three main ingredients needed to keep the cattle happy."

(Perry Moser / Rancher) "We bedded on Wednesday knowing it was gonna get cold and it looks like we are going to have to do it again today. If you can keep the cattle comfortable they just do better and happy cattle just do better."

And a happy cow makes for a happy rancher.

In case, you are wondering yesterday's low in Bismarck was 17 below.