Working our cows

[coachg]

Hate to work on Sunday, but today was the only day my young cowboys had off work to come help me . We wormed , vaccinated, tagged cows with lost tags . Then did the same with calves , plus banded all the bull calves . 80 cows , 2 herd bulls , and 40 calves . Took us right at 3 hrs . That included getting the one herd up off the smaller pasture and then rounding the other group up Off the 90 acre pasture . 1 cow slipped by us and 1 jumped through the head catch . My young folks brought a portable corral that sure made it nice , instead of my old worn out catch lot .
3rd herd another day . Only 23 cows , herd bull , and 12 calves left with that group .

 

[Lucky]

Sounds like a good day.

Might be none of my business but how do cowboys charge in your area? Here they charge by the day. 3 hrs or 12 Pays the same. I'd just as soon pay for the 3 if they can get it done.

 

[coachg]

Sounds like a good day.

Might be none of my business but how do cowboys charge in your area? Here they charge by the day. 3 hrs or 12 Pays the same. I'd just as soon pay for the 3 if they can get it done.

I'll have to get back to you Lucky , they told me they would wait till they worked the other herd . 3 young men and the prettiest cowgirl from Georgia you've ever seen ! 2 just out of high school trying to get a start in cattle . One still in high school and the young lady is the girl friend of one of the 2 . The 2 guys my wife taught in elementary school but we retired before I got to have them in class . My son had to go back to his job in Louisiana today so regardless what they charge us it will be worth it !

 

[Lucky]

regardless what they charge us it will be worth it !

99% of the time they are worth whatever they charge. It's rare we don't have an enjoyable day.

 

[coachg]

I'll have to get back to you Lucky , they told me they would wait till they worked the other herd . 3 young men and the prettiest cowgirl from Georgia you've ever seen ! 2 just out of high school trying to get a start in cattle . One still in high school and the young lady is the girl friend of one of the 2 . The 2 guys my wife taught in elementary school but we retired before I got to have them in class . My son had to go back to his job in Louisiana today so regardless what they charge us it will be worth it !

I usually give them $100 for helping us just to catch the 2 herds . Super good young folks . The other one of the 2 is married with 2 little girls . So I feel like it is money well spent . No screaming or cussing , easiest I've worked that many ever !!

 

[coachg]

Sounds like a good day.

Might be none of my business but how do cowboys charge in your area? Here they charge by the day. 3 hrs or 12 Pays the same. I'd just as soon pay for the 3 if they can get it done.

We started at 3:30 and finished at 6:30 . I tagged and slowed us up removing old worn out tags and retagging . And also tagging for lost tags .

 

[Brute 23]

Sounds like a good day.

Might be none of my business but how do cowboys charge in your area? Here they charge by the day. 3 hrs or 12 Pays the same. I'd just as soon pay for the 3 if they can get it done.

You have to buy the day because they likely can't catch another job after yours. It puts you on an even playing field with some one who can provide a full days work.

Good help can run you $350-500 a day per person, here. A lot of those guys won't charge enough for what they do and I don't feel right about it if I don't pay them what I think they deserve. They have quite a bit of money tied up in trucks, trailers, chutes, horses, etc and there is a lot of risk of injury.

 

[Warren Allison]

I usually give them $100 for helping us just to catch the 2 herds . Super good young folks . The other one of the 2 is married with 2 little girls . So I feel like it is money well spent . No screaming or cussing , easiest I've worked that many ever !!

That's what it is like over here, too. Most of the time, the people you help. or the people that help you, are friends and neighbors, or the young kids of friends and neighbors. Whenever I have helped someone, it usually goes like this: Them: " How much do I owe you?" I answer: " Oh, I don't know...just whatever you think its worth." They usually end up offering more than I would have charged them. Same thing with the ones that help me. I will ask them: " How much do I owe you?" If they answer me with a number, I will just pay them that, if I think it is enough. Or I give them extra if I think they didn't ask enough. I want them to come if they can, the next time I call them. And it is the same with me. They don't want to low ball me., They want me to want to come help next time they call. But most of the time, I am helping other ranchers, or they are helping me, and we mostly just swap out. Most of the time, if it is a long and hot day ( or cold day!) whose ever cows it is, will feed you and/or buy the beer at the end of the day. I won't hire people I don't know from an ad, nor will I go go help people I don't know.

 

[coachg]

I'll probably take them all out to supper one night regardless. Can't help loving on young folks that will work and help you even on a Sunday !

 

[TCRanch]

Weaned yesterday and I pay my cowboys $250 each. They wouldn't charge me and never asked for payment but they're hauling their horses and doing the real work. Anyone else that shows up just to help or for fun gets beer, snacks, dinner later. Usually turns into an all day party.