Snow, Cold Hampering Calving Season - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Snow, Cold Hampering Calving Season

January type temperatures in the middle the spring calving season is creating some difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions.

Subzero temperatures can be deadly for young calves in the first few hours of their life.

Cattlemen like Barry Scheresky, who ranches near Des Lacs, says weather is forcing ranchers to put in even more hours checking their herd more often.

He says being prepared during cold snaps like this is key to keeping animals healthy.

(Barry Scheresky, Rancher) "It's a lot less forgiving than we were used to last year. I guess that's probably the most important thing is to provide shelter to the cows and calving so the new born gets a good healthy start and get some of that colostrum milk from the cow and get dried off and they can tolerate a lot if they can get through than initial period if they can stay dry."

Scheresky says ranchers are going through more feed during this cold weather as the animals need more nutrition to fend of the elements.

He says the immediate concerns for young calves when their born is frost bite on the ears and tail.