Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 76 LENDING A HAND Even under the best of care, cows and their calves sometimes need help to get through the birthing process. As many ranchers can attest, this usually occurs during the darkest hours of the morning, when no one else is available to assist, most likely during the middle of a blizzard. Various signals can indicate a cow in distress, with some being subtler than others. While most births occur without problem, the need for intervention is not uncom- mon. Many producers will coax the cow into a head catch pen for examination. is allows the cow to remain standing, but restricts her movement. e caretaker can then assesses the position of the calf by reaching into the cow's vaginal cavity — yes, often shoulder-deep — and feeling for identifying features such as hooves, knees, a snout, or a tail. Repositioning a calf lodged firmly inside a restless, uncomfortable 1,400 pound animal can easily become a physical and mental mara- thon, but it is generally a successful process. After looping chains above the joints of the calf 's legs, it can usually be eased out of the birth canal by steadily pulling the chains in unison with the cow's contractions. Helping to bring a calf into the world is never an elegant undertaking, but the reward is well worth the mess. PUNCHING THE TIME-CLOCK My sister and I not-so-jokingly refer to calving season as "live in the barn time," and I'm sure countless Montana ranchers will agree. When the slightest bit of complacency could result in severe losses, vigilance is paramount. Unfortunately, this level of commitment can be exhausting, especially for ranches without significant manpower. Some operations have incorporated surveillance cameras into their monitoring process, which is a goal we have for the future. is technology allows ranchers to ob- serve their barns and corrals from a remote location for a portion of their herd checks, thereby reducing the number of trips into the cold. For now, my sister and I will each work 14-16 hour shifts every day, ensuring 24- hour coverage of the herd. Our shifts will overlap for four hours, enough time to help each other feed the cows and bed down the barn. We will call each other out of bed to help pull calves, to make emergency trips to the vet, and to treat minor animal illnesses. Some days we will feel invincible. Some days we will cry about things outside of our control. Some days, we might just sit on the fence and watch Old Red, pampering her 26th baby. SINGING TO THE COWS Finding an effective way to gather a herd singlehandly is no easy task, especially when cattle are spread throughout a large area such as a pasture. Instead of working to push their cattle into a group, some ranchers have found that if they sing, they can compel their cattle to come to them. Whether the caretaker chooses to use a melody or a certain tone or phrase, cattle tend to respond best when food rewards are occasionally incorporated. Due to their high intelligence, cows quickly associate the specific sound with the potential of treats, and they head over to investigate. Because this is a conditioned response the cattle associate with their handler, the consistency of the voice and sound emitted are key. If you aren't the rancher, don't expect to see amazing results — even if you sing all the right words, the herd just doesn't know your song. PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, calving season is arguably the most strenuous time of year for ranching operations.

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