Season of struggle

Cold and snow expected to impact calving season after a challenging winter for ranchers

 

March 9, 2023

Jeff Moberg

A group of cows finish up their morning meal west of Sundance on Tuesday. As calving season approaches, producers are hopeful the active winter pattern will transition to more spring-like conditions soon.

The toughest winter in a while might have been easier on Crook County's ranchers if it hadn't come on the heels of several years of drought.

"Cold and snow is a problematic thing, whether you're talking for calving or just wintering cattle and yearlings," says Wade Crawford of Crook County Veterinary Service.

"You end up having to feed more hay, which was in limited supply last year."

Two to three years of dry weather meant that nobody had much extra feed for their animals, he says.

"What we deal with is people trying to be creative in their feed selection. Some people over by Moorcroft and...



For access to this article please sign in or subscribe.

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2023

Rendered 06/10/2023 04:43