News

Cold weather leads to higher calf birth weights

Illinois veterinarian Buzz Iliff has had a busy calving season.  Iliff, whose practice is headquartered in Wyoming, Illinois, was called out often to care for calves ailing from being born during the winter that didn’t seem to quit.  It wouldn’t be his first.  Every now and again in Iliff’s 34 seasons of caring for livestock in that part of Illinois, weather makes for less than ideal conditions for cow and calf.  But following a cold winter there’s something else that happens that doesn’t seem to make sense.  Calf birth weights climb.  Iliff told Brownfield Ag News he usually counts on five extra pounds of calf per birth after a winter like the one that finally gave way.

AUDIO: Buzz Iliff (6:00) mp3