The past few days have been something. The cold weather, down to 20 below, and the wind, windchills to 40 below, has really made calving miserable. Luckily I'm only calving the heifers right now and I do that here at the house where I have a barn to pu them in.<br />n<br />n<center><a href='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/misc/barn02172006?full=1'><img width='250' height='188' border='0' hspace='5' src='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/albums/misc/barn02172006.thumb.jpg' alt='' /></a></center><br />n<br />nHere you see half the barn, there are a total of 6 stalls to put critters in and it has been full since the cold weather hit. The only heat available in the barn is generated by the animals themselves but it will get 20 degress warmer than outside in here so it helps. Especially when the wind is blowing. Most of the calves have been getting 12 hours in the barn until I need the room for a new one calving and have to kick them out into the elements.<br />n<br />n<center><a href='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/Calves/sun02172006?full=1'><img width='250' height='188' border='0' hspace='5' src='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/albums/Calves/sun02172006.thumb.jpg' alt='' /></a></center><br />n<br />nIt might look nice out here but when this picture was taken it was 5 below at the time and it was as warm as it got yesterday. These poor calves thought that was pretty nice laying against this white building and absorbing the sunlight.<br />n<br />n<center><a href='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/Cow-Pixs/teach02172006?full=1'><img width='250' height='188' border='0' hspace='5' src='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/albums/Cow-Pixs/teach02172006.thumb.jpg' alt='' /></a></center><br />n<br />nThe calving has been going really well, we had to pull a real big one last evening but otherwise has been going smooth. The picture above is the one that has been the biggest problem and it wasn't that big of deal. The mother was pretty indifferent to the calf when it was born and didn't clean it off like she should have. The calf got a little cold and was having a hard time figuring out how to nurse. In the picture I have the cow tied up and have taught the calf how to nurse and am now just standing there watching his progress in case he needs any more help. The cow is acting a little more motherly now so maybe all will be all right. We will have to wait and see.<br />n<br />nI can't particulary complain at the progress of calving the heifers. They are really calving like mad and we are almost 50% done now. Should have them pretty much done when the cows start at the beginning of next month. The weather could have been a little warmer though but you can't have everything I guess.<br />n<br />n<b>Both expectations and memories are more than mere images founded on previous experience. Samuel Alexander </b>