REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Eastern Montana winters can be brutal. Cows need to have proper care to prepare for calving and raising a calf in unfavorable conditions. The Stark family all works together this time of year to ensure their herd is cared for accurately.

The Stark Family owns S Bar K Cattle and Hay in Baker, Montana, and are participating in DTN's View From the Range series, where DTN will follow a year at the ranch to give readers an inside look at how the ranch operates and cares for its animals.

This segment of the series focuses on winter cow care on the eastern Montana ranch.

WEATHER PLAYS A ROLE IN CARE

"This winter has been mild so far. Temperatures have mostly been above normal," said Shaylyn Stark, who runs the ranch with husband, Tristan. "We've had some moisture, which we need and only one week of our typical minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so that's made cattle care a little easier."

Tristan is in charge of feeding cows and said he typically starts the end of November when the grass is sparce.

"We bale a lot of grass hay to feed. We also have a grass-alfalfa mix hay and straight alfalfa," he added. "The straight alfalfa is fed closer to calving season."

The Starks bale hay on many of their meadows to use for winter feed. They usually have an excess and will sell quite a bit of the large 3-foot-by-4-foot square bales. This past hay season they made most of the hay into large round bales to feed to their own cows.

"If we are feeding the squares we will put them on a trailer or flatbed truck and flake them off for the cows," Shaylyn explained. "For the round bales we have bale bed pickups we use to roll the hay out for the cows."

During the harsh winter months, cows are also fed haylage every few days to give them some more nutrients. Minerals are available all year, but the type of mineral changes for the season.

Tristan and Shaylyn are fortunate Beaver Creek, which runs through their pastures, doesn't completely freeze in the winter. "Where the cows are this time of year, the creek is very deep. We just have to check it every day to be sure the water is open and chop ice if needed," she explained.

WINTER STORM PREPARATION

When a winter storm is predicted, the Starks will feed the cows a little more than typical as they know feeding during the storm is unlikely. Cows are normally fed 30 pounds of feed per day, but when preparing for a storm that increases to 40 pounds per day.

It's important for the cattle to have windbreaks and straw to ride out the storm. Shaylyn said they will put extra straw bedding down in these areas to help protect the cows and calves, if they have been born.

"We have had winter storms during calving season, and we have to just try to get as many of the calves to warm shelter as possible," she explained. They prefer to bring the cows into the corral as well, but it's not always possible to do; and they try to get the calves back out to their moms as soon as it is safe.

As with any cattle operation, maintaining proper health is important and they will cull cows that show management issues. Problems can still occur and cows or calves will need extra care or medical treatment at times and are brought to the barns.

Communication is important during calving and during poor weather conditions. Tristan said they talk through two-way radios amongst the family. "Everyone is out and about during the day, so if we need help, we can radio for someone. At night there are a couple of us out checking and we can do the same," he said.

It's a busy time for everyone on the ranch, but with Tristan's parents and siblings nearby, they are always checking on each other and have help when needed.

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Editor's Note: To see previous stories in this series, go to:

-- "Montana Family Shares View From the Range," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "Montana Ranchers Weather Challenges to Preserve Ranch Heritage," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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