Posted on 10/14/2013 3:19:18 PM PDT by yoe
I recall driving across Northern Oklahoma after a particularly brutal blizzard in the late seventies-early eighties. The cattle were lined up, facing south, against the fence on the north side of OK-11 west of Medford -- frozen to death.
Back in the days of the Open Range, the "drifting" phenomenon of cattle before a blizzard was a recognized factor in the High Plains. The Panhandle Drift Fences were to help control this factor, keeping the free-ranging cattle north of the Canadian Breaks in the Panhandle.
The linked article notes that, in the Winter of 1884-85, an estimated 200K free-range cattle died when they finally reached the Panhandle Drift Fence.
The incident led to the abandonment of the Free Range and fencing off properties -- which enabled a policy of improving pastures.
It does not require much to shelter a cow. A simple wall of tin is often put up for them to take shelter behind. With some hay, cattle can survive as the hay is broken down in the stomachs by bacteria and produces heat in the body.
Wind is the killer.
Ever notice how buffalo face the wind but cows will turn their tail to it.
**Nervous Tick**
Texas Fever tick? Have you been dipped? ;-D
I've never observed buffalo behavior in heavy weather, so I'm not familiar with what you describe.
A buffalo's tail is comparatively small in comparison with the rest of the body. I wonder if that explains the difference...
You who think the ranchers should build shelters or snow fencing (what?) may never have lived in the West, probably have never seen, much less participated in, a real cattle drive, do not know what is involved in livestock management, and have no idea of the distances and numbers involved. We are not talking about a run-in shed for half a dozen horses on ten acres. Believe me when I tell you that the ranchers are not uncaring and do not deliberately treat their animals in a cavalier fashion because they think government insurance will cover them. They are not in control of when their animals’ winter coats come in, which is regulated by the length of the days. Finding and driving cattle in huge distances is difficult enough in good weather, but in a blizzard it is not going to happen. Neither horses, trucks, ATVs, nor helicopters (which ranchers often use for serious drives) are going to work in blizzards.
I'm just telling you...around here we've had some hard snows...and hard weather. Most ranchers have 4x4 feed trucks...because the country is rugged. Most ranchers have pellet feeders and round bales....and able top get that feed to their cattle.
I lived in SoCal in '76.........
No, you aren’t getting blizzards then. We have had blizzards where we are on snow mobiles and the bales and pellet feeders are under the snow. Well under the snow. 4x4s don’t get to these places until a path is cleared or the snow has melted. And you don’t drive in the blizzard, you sit and wait it out and then think about getting out.
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