Buckaroo Texan Blog

April 17, 2010 -   Spring Branding  Part 2-Crewmembers:  Roy Bowling, Nate Bowling, Mike and Cindy Bowling, Jake Bowling, Richard Crawford, Sam and Kate Gooding, Jeannie Choate, Keenan Ivy, Josh S., Cody Porter, Johnny Moore.
 Photos by Kate  & Sam Gooding.

The cattle and calves are gathered at a slow pace after trotting many miles looking for the cattle.  Many of the calves are rather young so the cattle are slowly pushed to the pens about 2 miles away.   A couple of the younger calves get tired and a crew member stays with them to tie them up at a well marked area so a pickup and trailer can come back to get them and haul them to the pens. 

The crew of cowboys spread around the herd on all sides.   The ones in front show the cattle where to go.  The ones on either side of the herd keep the cattle funneled in the direction of the leaders and the ones riding behind, the drag, keep the slow ones moving forward and with the herd.   It takes concentration to details to read the cattle and calves.  Several of the cows along the way will try to make a run back in the direction they came from.  Just the pressure on the eye of the cow by a horse is usually enough to turn them back into the herd.  The cattle will generally not make more than a step or two out of the herd if you and your horse are alert and reading the cattle.  As we get near the pens, we let the cattle and calves water as the leaders set the gates to take the cattle through and in this instance, we need to open gates to cross the highway to the bigger pens on the opposite side.   The cattle mingle here for about 15 minutes while everyone gathers in and gets spaced out to watch and hold the herd.   The trail boss, Roy, takes quick count and checks with the crew on how many calves were left behind.    Several of the cows and calves think about making an escape.  Button and I are in the right place at the right time and turn the mommas back.   There is plenty of opportunity to get horse trys while working the cattle.  Backing half circles, backing straight lines, turning on the haunches, asking for soft feel, and backing then rolling back quickly to stop a cow.

When the gates are set, the leaders file through the gates and we start moving the herd through the trap and out over the highway into the bigger set of pens.   Two crew members hold traffic as we get the cattle flowing at a fast walk and get them across as quick as possible.

After gates are shut behind the cattle and all the crew is across the highway, the trail boss sets crew members up for sorting.   Button and I were in a big pen to hold the cows as they were cut off from the calves.   This job was easy at first but as the numbers of cows grew and calves were bawling, realizing their moms were gone, the cows gave us several good tries to get back into the pen with their calves.  Mommas wanting to get to their babies no matter the species can be pretty darn headstrong.   Button and I had to be quick and assertive to keep them back, until the sorting was done and we were able to shut the gate.

The ground crew works quickly to set the branding fire and brands.  Vaccines and earnotcher is made ready.   The crewmembers that will rope the calves, get their horses set and the rest of us tie or hobble our horses outside the branding area, while we work the ground.    The calves are roped by the hind legs and drug to the fire.  The ropers us a trap shot or a ride by flank shot.  

Two crew members hold the calf down, one by the neck and foreleg and the other by the hind legs, they take the rope off the calf so the roper can get another calf while the crew works on this calf.  One person, brands, another person castrates if a bull calf, one member ear notches the ranch marks, another person gives vaccines to the calf and the last person gives the calf a dewormer.   This process takes on the average, less than 30 seconds for the calf to be down at the fire.   Two ropers can keep the ground crew moving at a steady pace. Two of the crew take a horse and a pickup with trailer and go back to find the 2 small calves that were left behind.   The work moves fast and the near 90 head of calves are worked in a little over an hour.

The next chore is to treat the cows for flies, ticks and lice and vaccinate.  The cows are brought down an alley into a curved chute and 4 to 5 cows are worked at a time.  The cows are over 1000 lbs and not real happy about being in the chute.  It takes some timing to vaccinate each one and not break off needles. 

The cow and calf work is done in less than 3 hours.  The cows are turned back with their calves into a big pen for them to pair back up.   The cattle will be allowed to rest for a couple of hours before being turned into a fresh pasture.  The fire is put out and the gear stowed into the pickup.  The crewmembers get horseback and head to the ranch headquarters for a late lunch.  The ride is alittle over  a mile.      

The ranch supplies the crew with a big meal of steaks, potatoes and salad.  Roy’s wife is a wonderful cook.  The talk at the big table is of adventures with cattle and horses.  Times that were challenging  but now funny in the retelling.    

 It is time to head back to the  horse pens.   The horses have rested and are ready for the trip.  Kate, Sam and I head off at lope for a mile along the ranch road.   We cross the highway and head for home.      The horses know they have done a good job and we arrive back at the horse trap about 4 p.m.   What a day for horse and human and a rewarding experience.