Cattle Losses

[OldMcDonald]

I have just read an article on an English farming magasine site referring to huge stock losses in South Dakota due to blizzards. it was vague about places and numbers. Any further info?

 

[3930dave]

The tiny clip I saw on the general weather news didn't look good; some ranchers took a big hit.

South Dakota Ranchers Reeling From Cattle Losses : NPR

Rgds, D.

 

[devildog1]

The news said 75,000 to 100,000 dean because of over 4' of early snow around Rapid City, Deadwood South Dakota. That is a shame.
DevilDog

 

[dave1949]

As of a couple days ago, they weren't real sure how many. The story said so many were driven by the storm miles from where they should be, it would take a while to get a good count. It will be a lot I'm sure.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I heard that some farmers lost between 20% and 100% of their herds. I can't even imagine.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I seen the news clip on RFD-TV and said 65,000+,hate to hear it,feel for those farmers.

 

[jim_wilson]

Question to educate myself: what exactly to the ranchers do for the cattle when they know a storm like this is coming to avoid losses - or put another way: what about having the cattle stuck out in a storm like this causes so many of them do die?

Is it just purely the cold (would the ranchers have them inside shelter otherwise?) , or is it that they're spread all over the place and can't get food to them and so forth?

 

[foreman Etexas]

I'm sure they have a winter program,being its pasture with some kinda shelter or bringing them in to a closer pasture to watch,keep hay out and water broke up. I'm sure with those condition it was hard for them to get around on horse/tractor whatever to check cattle all over the place and try to round the cattle up. That's just a guess being a cattle rancher myself,we don't get but maybe couple inches here,its mainly the calves water freezing and fighting sickness from them being cold and wet.

 

[pacerron]

The news clip we saw this morning said it was an unexpected winter storm and too early for the cows to have grown their winter coat.
It rained first and the cows were in deep mud, then snow so deep that the ones that were still mobile just walked over the fences that were buried in the snow. With the gov shutdown they don't think assistance will be coming soon.
This article pretty much covers it from people involved.
The Blizzard that Never Was – and its Aftermath on Cattle and Ranchers | Dawn Wink: Dewdrops

 

[ozley]

The bad new also is the Dept. USDA is shutdown
And they can't get any fast help.

 

[OldMcDonald]

jim wilson, My experience (similar losses of sheep for many of us in the UK in the 1978-79 winter) is just as pacerron says - wet stock then sudden deep snow. It is impossible to get out and around the property and animals perish. The situation worsens if more snow follows. It is one of those feelings of sickness and despair that I never want to repeat. I did not have generations of breeding stock, being relatively young, but most of my neighbours and those further afield did. My losses were sufficient that I sold up and moved to Australia. I then discovered what the word "drought" really means. But, that is farming and we have to live with it or get out of it altogether. Most pick up the pieces and start again, and I really feel for those folk and others who suffer such losses.

 

[mjarrels]

Beef prices are going to rise.

mark

 

[OldMcDonald]

mjarrels, Respond as you think fit - but that remark shows a sick mind!!!!!!