Producers grapple with effects of cold weather on livestock
Producers in Saskatchewan are dealing with more work and higher costs as they struggle to keep livestock alive and warm following a long winter and very cold spring.
With calving season underway, newly-born animals are suffering from the low temperatures.
Dr. Shawn Haas with Lakeland Veterinary Services in North Battleford is a specialist in herd medicine and reproduction. He says he’s already had to treat, and in some instances euthanize, young calves, lambs, kids and foals that are suffering with frozen ears, feet and legs.
“Certainly we had a number of animals where amputation of limbs, in some instances some animals had to be put down, simply because they had more than one leg that was frozen … essentially anything that would have their babies outside,” Haas told farmnewsNOW. “It’s been a very challenging year for livestock producers.”