Clipping Calves in Winter

[mainecattlemother]

Last winter we clipped our calves with 5/8 blade in January.  We are in West Central, MN and it is very cold.  This year we have a market heifer that is a Monopoly x Friction and a 1/2 blood Simmi steer that is a Unforgiven x PB Simmi cow.  The Monopoly has great hair and the 1/2 blood Simmi has adequate hair but I would love to see even more.  We do have a cooler in the summer and rinse twice daily and work many hours everyday to get hair.  We also have a couple smaller simmi heifers. Would you clip the calves to 5/8?  We certainly will not clip the smaller simmi heifers but I am questioning if we should do the market heifer and steer.  What is everyones thoughts on this?

 

[obie105]

Some of the biggest shows in the midwest start this weekend and those calves will be clipped tight and ready to go. I have never worried out it. Especially if they have a place to get out of the wind.

 

[OH Breeder]

We keep the calves clipped year round. In the cooler months as it gets chilly here we keep head shaved and trim as needed. We don't peel them down short in winter months but right at spring shead out we will trim short and use a grill block to pull dead hair out. April May is when we see the hair thin.