Old Ranchers Tale

There is Old <s>Wives</s> Ranchers Tale that if the winter is tough and cold the calves born in the spring will be larger than normal, i.e. larger than if the winter was mild and warm, and you will have more calving difficulties. The theory behind it being that more of a cows energy is directed inward when it is cold to keep the vital functions operating and therefore the fetus gets more nourishment and grows larger. It's always made sense to me so I always bought this explanation.<br />n<br />nGuess what, it's right!!<br />n<br />n<a href="http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=15634">Severity Of Winter And Impact On Calf Birth Weights</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Results indicate that cold temperatures influenced calf birth weight. Weather cannot be controlled; however, with below average winter temperatures, larger birth weight calves and more calving difficulty may be expected in the spring.</blockquote><br />n<br />nSometimes common sense and Old Ranchers Tales are right.<br />n<br />n<b>In an area where nothing was known, medicine had to draw on social lore. Virginia Johnson</b>