Winter

November 14, 2025

This summer, 2025 seemed to be especially hot and humid.  We were actively rotationally grazing our heifers and all went exceptionally well until about July.  When the hot, dry weather hit the heifers started showing signs of discomfort.  I had them in a large field.  I had to temporarily fence a laneway to shade and the heifers spent most of their days there. They noticeably lost condition.    Around 6p.m. they would wander out to the pasture to graze.  We are new to rotational grazing so our selection of forages in our pasture is not expansive.  We have mostly orchard grass.  As the heat and drought dragged on the orchard grass took a break and the foxtail took over.  When the sharp, picky seed heads popped open on the Foxtail the heifers started to pick around it.  There wasn't much else to eat - picky foxtail and unpalatable orchard grass - just a little cover.  I had to start to roll out round bales of hay.  I was miserable, the cows were miserable, even the birds were panting.  The biting insects didn't get awfully bad until the drought hit, then they became unbearable - another reason the girls spent most of the days in the shade.  I fought a constant battle.  I checked on them, I changed their water 3 times a day, I fed them watermelon, I offered them electrolytes, I even offered them a huge umbrella for additional shade (that did not go too well!!). 

All my fussing, all my micro managing, all the watermelon I cut up - they survived!! I, obviously, survived.  I learned a lot last summer and I'll be more prepared this coming summer.  I'll graze the high and dry area of our fields during the spring and the outer edges of the field where there is shade later in the summer.  I can't fix the water situation right now but changing their water a few times a day allows me the opportunity to check on the animals.  I have a plan to help drown out the foxtail - I'm hoping I'm succesful.  I grazed 6 heifers last summer.  This summer I'll have 8 or 9.  I'm looking forward to the challenge! 

I've forgotten how uncomfortable we all were during the summer.  Now I'm rather cold when I'm outside for 5 hours at a time stringing fence or placing fence posts.  I remember thinking I would never again complain about having to break ice in the cattle water tubs.  I'm complaining about the cold already and it's not even winter yet - I'm guessing I'll be cussing this winter again while I'm breaking ice in the water tubs!