Need Sun!!

I was so happy over the weekend that we missed most of the big storm and only got an inch or two of new snow.  That was short-lived as the storm continued into Monday with snow most of the day and into the night.  It was even snowing during the brief times that the sun was out!  Our temps have only been in the 20s.  So depressing.  I have to keep telling myself that it could be worse, like the 16" of new snow in North Dakota over the weekend or the 22" in South Dakota the weekend before.

We were so proud of ourselves for doing such a good job of saving the March calves, but the April ones have been more of a challenge.  We've had three die out in the pasture for no apparent reason and one in one of the pens.  It was fine the night before and near death in the morning.  We put it in the warmer and doctored it a bit, but by afternoon it was dead.  The poor things are just perpetually cold and damp with this weather.  Thank goodness things have slowed down to where we're only getting about one new calf a day.

Our barn is still full with the adopted cow-calf pair, the "twins" (that aren't really twins) and the one that was near-death that we saved and her mama.  It's kind of lazy and we have never seen it nurse on the cow, but it doesn't appear hungry and runs and bucks and we haven't given it a bottle for a few days.  I'm wondering if it robs off the other cows.  It's mother is difficult to nurse because she has such short legs and such a big bag that her teats are only about 8 inches off the ground.

It is looking more and more like we had triplets although we still don't believe that's the case.  That's a lot of calf for one cow.  No wonder she took one and high-tailed it out to pasture!  Of the remaining five cows in that pen, all have calved but one, and she's looking ready to give birth.  Number 720 deserves a "Mother of the Year" award for taking care of her own calf and one that isn't hers.

M spent all afternoon yesterday with the skid-steer cleaning out the shed in the back of the barn so we can move those animals outdoors where they can get some sun and fresh air.  We put new straw in so maybe they'll stay relatively dry for a day or two.

We are having partly sunny skies today so that is making us feel a little better.  Spring has to arrive sometime!