Calves have been coming steady

This winter certainly has been a tough one. Cold and when it’s not cold, we get snow.
Be sure to check your roofs! It Temiskaming District, they are having barns collapse frequently. In Thunder Bay, a new dairy barn that the cattle had been in for just three weeks also collapsed.
I think we have less snow, and maybe we’ve had enough wind or warmer weather to have less on our roofs, but still take the time to check them!
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Calves have been coming steady. On Sunday in that lovely wind, I had five.
Marlee was out farming this past weekend and proved very helpful on such a busy day. She lucked out that her heifer calved on Sunday and so did her sister’s but Maddie was off with her team in Thunder Bay where they won the PeeWee ‘AA’ tournament.
Marlee was getting a bit nervous watching “Lia” calve. She came to me twice, first to say, “I am worried she is going to get over on her back.” Then then second time she thought she had stopped breathing.
Fortunately, “Lia” was a champ and calved all by herself. The first time sometimes can be a challenge and it definitely takes a bit more time.
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The snow certainly makes for a lot more work and then with that wind, the drifts really make opening gates and doors a challenge.
Monday was a busy day catching up with that and getting the cattle moved around. Thankfully, the calves that are moved outside are smart enough to know that they don’t want to venture too far from the calf huts.
They act a little like a drive-thru right now as the cows stand beside while the calf nurses and then moves on.
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As I’m dragging my butt around from being tired, and spending a lot more time wandering around all hours of the day and night because of this challenging weather, I wonder if it is all worth it? If our springs were not so darn wet and messy, I definitely would consider calving my cows later.
I believe it would be less stressful for the most part but I certainly would being giving up on weights at the end of the year, as well. Doing chores in the mud and wet is the least favourite part of this job, so would calving be less enjoyable?
I’ve got some time to think about it but it certainly crosses my mind.
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The annual 4-H Awards Night is coming up this Friday (March 1). It is always an exciting night to see the kids out and celebrating all that they accomplished last year.
It also gets us all geared up for the upcoming season.
Ang Haw has been working hard to get the awards night all put together. I’m hoping my cows will co-operate enough that I can get away to it.
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As we move into March, a month that can be full of snow and wind, I’m hoping Mother Nature is mixed up and we will have a mild, calm month as many other producers are just gearing up for calving and I don’t wish this weather on anyone!