An eastern Iowa cattle producer says his winter calving is in full swing.
Lance Lillibridge tells Brownfield recent conditions have been bitter.
“We had our first calf on the 27th of December. We went from spring calving weather to dead, hard winter calving weather in a very short period of time.”
Wind chills have been well below zero, and Lillibridge says it’s important to keep cows comfortable.
“The precautions you have to take, the calf can take the cold it just can’t take the wet, so you have to make sure to get them dry. Once they get that colostrum in them and they are dried off they just seem to flourish.”
He says fresh water is also critical.
“That’s a constant check, five to seven times a day checking waters and making sure they are opened up so the cows can drink. Also making sure they’ve got a good meal in front of them too.”
Lillibridge says he prefers his calving to take place during the winter due to the lack of mud. He raises red angus cattle in Benton County.
