Jeff Smith has to make his rounds on foot because the mud is more than his truck can handle. Every three hours, he checks his herd of 80-some heifers for signs of new life and struggling soon-to-be moms. When problems arise, Smith stays and helps. Sometimes spending most of his night in a wet, cold field.
The area’s ongoing winter conditions have added to Smith’s workload and make this year’s rounds all the more important.
Smith, like several other cattlemen in McPherson County, is in the midst of calving season. A multi-week, sometimes multi-month, period where heifers- first-time mothers- and cows- seasoned mothers- give birth to their new calves.
The wet and cold can be hard on mothers and babies so its up to Smith to create sutable conditions and a helping hand, when needed.
Brining calves into the world is time-intensive and sometimes stressful but the results- a healthy, active calf- are well worth all the work for Smith and the hundreds of other cattlemen in the state and are and will bring new calves into the world.
“I actually enjoy doing this more than I do the rest of my farming,” Smith said.
Read more about the calving process and how cattleman battle the winter conditions in Saturday's McPherson Sentinel.
