They got kicked up on the hill behind the house. We will wait until they calf, then gather them, work the calves, and haul them over to where the ones went yesterday. Last year there was 15 that went up the hill. This year only 5.
Easier? Probably not. It does take a bigger crew to rope and drag to the fire. At the bigger brandings where we do 200-300 a day it is faster to rope because we have a much bigger crew. Those also become a community event and that helps to build community. Which just as important as getting the calves branded. We might use the calf table to do the calves from the five which got turned up the hill. One of the advantages is roping and dragging to the fire makes rope horses and cowboys. Both of which are needed around here when cows are out in the hills. For 40 calves we didn't need much crew. Three guys roping. The ground crew was like the walking wounded. B who has a bad knee from getting wiped out by a cow this week, a high school kid who works for B he has a broken finger on his right hand, and me, I am 70 years old fat and slow. The big brandings will have 12-16 ropers. With 6-8 in the pen at a time. There will be 6 to 10 people taking turns on the ground. Plus there is always a bunch people too old or too young to help hanging around.Dave, would it not be easier to use that chute for working the animals?
I'm a greenhorn of coarse. Bear that in mind.
I must say, when I tag and band new ones. It is MUCH easier doing it on the ground compared to using a chute as compared to older calves using a chute. Chute never seems smalle enough for lil calves.
I probly just answered my own question eh?
Great pics! I really like seeing how you guys operate up there!! Thanks for posting them!
Do you make the ropers take off the rubber wrap around the saddle horn. According to my uncle the rubber does not allow the rope to slip a little, and it causes injury to the calves by stretching them to hard.
6-8 in the pen at a time? WOW. They must know what they are doing and/or have a big pen.
These are all cowboys not team ropers. I have never seen anyone show up with a rubber wrapped saddle horn. If they did I believe they would be invited to leave their horse tied to the trailer
The pens vary in size. But it is not uncommon to have 3 calves lined up. Things do move right along and if you are on the ground you need to keep your head on a swizzle. I know that you very rarely have time between calves.
That first picture would make a painting. I've gotta hang around some cattle being worked so I have some images worth putting on canvas.
That would make a pretty cool painting. As you can probably tell he is a Broncos fan. My avatar photo was taken at that same branding; that was a little to close for comfort. I had calf pulled into, and it just rolled me out of the way.
