Blasted arctic air fronts

myheaven · #1 02/27/14, 02:11 PM

These constant bitter cold front have played havoc on my animals. It finally happened, my steer went down yesterday. He's not too little. 10 mts old and a good 600 lbs. he was down on the ice and couldn't get up. Tried to drag him to his barn/hut by myself but being 1/4 his weight yeah I needed help. Got my ds from his online class. Took all we had to get the guy in his house. Got him warmed and drinking. Rolled him so he didn't bloat. Have been able to get him up and stumbling around today. He's pooping and passing gas. Still not 100% but better but not out of the woods.
Glad I kept the worn out chewed blankets. Put one on the freezer meat. Helped him out with the -37 temps. Plus buried him in wood shavings.
I'm so tired of the cold. I'm ready for mud!

cooper101 · #2 02/27/14, 07:02 PM

Yep. Couldn't be more tired of it. I've slipped and pulled groin muscles so many times this winter.

Somebody share some farmerly wisdom about needing a winter like this now and then. There has to be some point to it.

Dupree · #3 02/27/14, 07:52 PM

I read somewhere that this constant cold harsh winter will lead to less ticks and also kill off a lot of the emerald ash borer.. At least here in MN. I have a forest of ash so this would be welcomed news for my place.

Jennifer L. · #4 02/27/14, 08:01 PM

Glad you got to him in time. Cows and ice sure don't mix.

Dupre, I have another forest of ash, they outnumber other species at least ten to one on this farm. I haven't been looking forward to dead ashes after having gone through dead elms when I was a kid. If the cold holds them back a few years I'm all for it. But it does make other parts of life tough.

Awnry Abe · #5 02/27/14, 08:29 PM

Yeah. I'm so done with the freezing. Water has been a challenge this winter, for sure.

myheaven · #6 02/27/14, 08:56 PM

Attempting to pull him in to the barn I dislocated the left front of my pelvis. Kinda happens when your very pregnant. He has been up today eating. Very interested in hay. I'm very happy to see it. Spent a good part of today in bed and just laying about. Boy that tuckered me out. I'm sure no spring chicken any more.

myheaven · #7 02/27/14, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awnry Abe

Yeah. I'm so done with the freezing. Water has been a challenge this winter, for sure.

We keep popping the gfi from the draw of tank heater. We hooked a lite up pointed to the house so I know when the tank heater shuts off. A fully frozen tank sucks!

G. Seddon · #8 02/28/14, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myheaven

Attempting to pull him in to the barn I dislocated the left front of my pelvis. Kinda happens when your very pregnant.

As glad as I am that your steer is better, you are getting the knucklehead of the day award for doing this while "very pregnant." Please, this is just plain stupid and I won't apologize for saying so.

Bret · #9 02/28/14, 08:04 AM

I'm having issues with the electric fence working well during this arctic cold. Calves standing in the barn lot on top of 10 inches of frozen snow/ice don't seem to feel the charge and walk easily through poly wires that divide and separate from stored hay bales and the rest of the herd. When I test from a hot wire to a t-post I see a good charge. When I test from the hot wire to the earth or snow, there is nothing. I love spring, summer and fall and one month of winter. And, no mud. Is that too much to ask for ?

goodhors · #10 02/28/14, 01:26 PM

My Heaven, do you own a tractor or tow vehicle? Trying to deal with such a large animal while PREGNANT??, pulling it, is just dangerous to you and child!!

I am asking, because if you have ANY kind of towing vehicle, you need to use that for moving animals. Not that difficult if you have a couple 3" wide, 20ft long tow straps to do the work for you.

I got educated about moving animals in dire straits, bad locations, at a Farm Safety clinic and have since used the towing method several times to aid the animals. For SOME reason, I never needed it all the many years before I learned!

If you want more information, have a tractor or truck to pull with, I can explain further so you don't hurt yourself again. Be pretty awful if you lost the baby trying to save a calf.

solsikkefarms · #11 02/28/14, 02:08 PM

Hope the little guy makes it through alright. It's been a tough winter indeed. Took a pretty hard spill this morning hauling buckets of water since my tanks froze over last night.

fishhead · #12 02/28/14, 03:46 PM

Would it help to put down a layer of dry sand or gravel on the ice under and around him so that he could get some traction if he slips again?

If I were pregnant I think I would be using a come along for heavy stuff like a 600 lb animal. Maybe just enough to pull him to firm footing.

myheaven · #13 02/28/14, 08:56 PM

I have several times written a post and it says it timed out. Dang. Trust me guys dragging him was last choice. I I could have gotten a tractor near him I would have used it. The truck wench and come along are all in the shop. Vet was hours out so was dh and neighbors. At least my big strapping teen son was there to help thank God or he (steer) would be dead. He (steer) is our only hope for beef this next winter.
We all are fine. Baby is dislocating my ribs. I'm feeling much better. Thing 1 as he is called is eating and doing better.