March 4th - The Cold Opens Them Up

 Snowstorm today.  With the storm we added a couple extra checks of the first calf heifers in the night.  The day started with 40 degree rain, which after a short break in the morning from precipitation, turned into snow and wind.  We got around 6-7 new calves by early morning. We fed all the cattle extra and in sheltered areas as much as possible.  Dad saw a couple first calf heifers that looked like they were close and got them shut up in the south facing calving pens.   By the afternoon they had both calves.  But late afternoon did another check of the main herd, by my count we ended up getting 15 or 16 new calves on that cold, wet, windy day.  Our highest prior to that was 9 in one day.  I texted a friend of mine who is also in the middle of calving and he said its a pressure thing, cold wet weather induces labor apparently!     

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