A
Anonymous
HI Ladies and Gentlmen, I'm an author for Silhouette and the hero in my next book is the foreman on a large Texas cattle ranch. (I'm guessing several thousand acres and around three to five thousand cows)And since I don't know anything about cattle, or how things are done on a big cattle ranch, I was hoping some of you with more expeience wouldn't mind answering a few questions for me. Such as (vernacular is so important)... Do you call the animals cows or cattle?
I'm also wondering about roundups. Is this term still used? And, if so, what exactly is a roundup? I'm guessing this a term used when the animals are gathered to be sold or when they're gathered for other things such as branding, vaccines, etc. but I might be totally misusing the term. However, if that is what a roundup is, do you have more than one a year on a big ranch? And what time a year do they occur?
Are cattle still branded? If so, when is it done? When a calf is still young or when he's older? What time of year is this done. Is this a practice that would be employed on a big ranch with large numbers or cattle?
Are vaccines administered as shots with such large numbers of cattle? I'm thinking with huge numbers this could be a daunting task. But if cattle are like other livestock there are vaccines they'll need.
What about castrating with big herds? Banding? Or are other methods used?
I realize these are big questions, but I'd appreciate greatly any answers you'd be willing to share.
I've bred, raised and trained horses for years, and we raised sheep for about ten years, so I know a bit about livestock, the importance of proper feed, fresh water, proper fencing, vaccinating etc so I'll understand the basic terms--I think. But, we only had a hundred sheep and the horse herds I worked with numbered about that also, so I don't know anything about handling huge herds of animals. (And obviously, nothing about cows.) Many thanks for any light you can shed for me.
[email protected]
I'm also wondering about roundups. Is this term still used? And, if so, what exactly is a roundup? I'm guessing this a term used when the animals are gathered to be sold or when they're gathered for other things such as branding, vaccines, etc. but I might be totally misusing the term. However, if that is what a roundup is, do you have more than one a year on a big ranch? And what time a year do they occur?
Are cattle still branded? If so, when is it done? When a calf is still young or when he's older? What time of year is this done. Is this a practice that would be employed on a big ranch with large numbers or cattle?
Are vaccines administered as shots with such large numbers of cattle? I'm thinking with huge numbers this could be a daunting task. But if cattle are like other livestock there are vaccines they'll need.
What about castrating with big herds? Banding? Or are other methods used?
I realize these are big questions, but I'd appreciate greatly any answers you'd be willing to share.
I've bred, raised and trained horses for years, and we raised sheep for about ten years, so I know a bit about livestock, the importance of proper feed, fresh water, proper fencing, vaccinating etc so I'll understand the basic terms--I think. But, we only had a hundred sheep and the horse herds I worked with numbered about that also, so I don't know anything about handling huge herds of animals. (And obviously, nothing about cows.) Many thanks for any light you can shed for me.
[email protected]