Dad fed small round bales of hay with an 8N Ford and a 2 wheel lowboy. Had chains for the tractor, and he could resort to a 3-point mounted carry-all box if the snow or mud was to deep to pull the trailer. 10 bales of hay left the front end pretty light.
When it was below zero cold the 8N could balk at starting. Dad would hitch Tom & Dick (they had enough Percheron blood to weigh 1300 lbs or so) to a sled or wagon to feed. The cows got a few buckets of ear corn that we would break into bite size chunks over 4 X 4 board at the crib.
He had me get off and run beside the sled sometimes to keep from getting too cold. Sticking your overshoe toes into a fresh cowpie was another quick warm up.
When it was really bad weather he always kept a stack of hay next to the pasture fence that we could throw bales over and spread out and not bother with the tractor or horses.
The new 2wd '68 F-100 was quite the luxury-mud tires and v-bar chains it went pretty good.
Last edited by cowdoc; 02/19/21.
