SigMT

24 | SIGNATURE MONTANA Haphazard, yet stubbornly regal, Old Red stands as the indisputable Red Limousin matriarch of our family's fourth-generation cale herd. Now on the verge of her 29th birthday, she is the only animal who has been cared for by three generations of our family. She knew my late grandfather, my father, and is now under the watchful eye of my sister, who happens to be nearly two years younger than Old Red herself. Owning such an aged cow is an anomaly. Many ranches depend on calf sales as their primary source of income. If a cow fails to produce a calf, she remains an expensive investment but yields no return. Consequently, many ranchers are forced to cull cows as the animals' ability to produce calves dwindles with time. Because most beef cows become less productive before their tenth year, keeping older cows is an uncommon practice. Well, Old Red didn't get that memo. During the upcoming calving season, we will witness the birth of her 26th calf. Against all odds, indeed. Against the Odds Now or Never Braving the Storm Calving season is arguably the most strenuous time of the year for ranching operations, physically and emotionally. Producers who are unable to foster healthy, strong calves could quickly face financial ruin. Simultaneously, gestating cale requires extra care and monitoring to ensure they have the greatest likelihood of producing viable offspring. Combine these factors with unpredictable weather and sky-high feed costs, and it becomes prey easy to understand why calving season leaves many producers longing for the days of summer grazing. To minimize hay expenses and maximize the use of pasture grasses, many Montana cale producers schedule their herds' calving season beginning in late February and ending in early May. Unfortunately, the weather that oen accompanies late winter and early springtime months in Big Sky Country is not always conducive to bringing new life into the world. In fact, it can oen be downright demonic. Polar temperatures, blinding snow, and near-instantaneous freezing are not simply inconveniences for Montana ranchers – they essentially guarantee death for newborn calves le unprotected for even a short period of time. ough the styles and quantity of shelters available vary among ranches, most area producers agree that having a dry space with wind protection is essential for newborn calves. Our operation utilizes a large coverall barn capable of holding approximately 100 cows and a small adjacent heated barn to provide shelter for higher-risk cases. Because the large barn cannot hold our entire herd at once, only those closest to giving birth and those with newborn calves can be accommodated. is reality requires us to remain especially vigilant in monitoring the herd to ensure no cow is le to give birth outside. With subzero temperatures also comes frozen water – the bane of many caretakers' existence. Repairing broken lines and fighting malfunctioning stock water heaters can consume a significant portion of the day. ose relying on ponds and reservoirs as water sources regularly have to cut or auger through thick ice multiple times daily to hydrate their livestock. Young calves are curious and sassy! Welcome to the world, little one.

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