Subzero Cold Snap

The temperature got down to -15 F (-26 C) overnight (not that cold for a two-month-old calf). Even though he was in the shelter of the barn Scout got frostbite on his ears, and was shivering in the morning. I thawed his ears by holding them in my hands and put this wool coat on him. His ears softened up and seem fine. Here he is basking in the sunshine.

I think he must have had a metabolic energy shortage transitioning from pasture to hay — because of an additional snowfall. He had been on a calf starter mix but didn’t consume as much as I would have liked to have seen. He seemed to prefer pasture even though the forage was brown. I added a third feeding of milk replacer to his diet for a few days and he continued to wear the coat at night for several weeks. He could have shaken it off but seemed to enjoy the added warmth.