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NEMO | You need to have a hot box for calves that get chilled or need a kick start, like a 3x3 with a heat lamp or 2. If you don't have a hot box, go to your porch/laundry room. Get your shed set up with 6-8 pens to put the close ups in every night, even if you have to buy feed store gates to do it. Beats the heck out of dragging a hf and a frozen calf in. If you can get colostrum in them from the cow or a bottle (get the good colostrum) and get them warm and going, they will be fine. Do not hesitate to give them some colostrum out of a bottle in extreme cold. The minute you let your guard down thinking it will be OK and walk to the house, it will bite you in the ass. Go over and above. Several years ago, it was minus whatever and we had 40 in 3 days, we did great. But we lived with them 24/7. If a calf hit the ground, we made sure it got hooked up and dry. If you can just get them out of the wind and get them to nurse a couple times, they can stand a lot after that. As expensive as calves are now, it will pay really good to make them live. This is one time when you want it bad, do it right. That being said, my old buddy??Ben is right with warm weather calving, and we have moved all the spring calvers to fall (works great for old folks, calves are 3 wts now and eat lots of hay). Get geared up and psyched up now. Anything that you can think to give you an edge, make sure you have good outside lighting even if you have to add to it now.
Edited by oldtiger 12/30/2024 19:44
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February Calving Advice
