There may be no other day of the year that is as eagerly anticipated as branding day - at least for me! It's an event for the whole family - from the toddlers to great grandma. There is a lot of dust, a little cursing, and it finishes up with a great potluck spread.
It may not be as much fun for the mamas and babies, briefly separated here while the doctoring and other shennanigans go on in the calf pen. It's a noisy day as they talk back and forth to each other across the fence.
My husband, the baby of the family and the one with the fewest injuries (currently), is the chief calf wrestler. This year his pants remained intact. Not so last year when I had to sew his jeans back together using twine and a few holes poked with a pocket knife. Now that's sewing I can handle!
Katie is awfully interested in the cows, but doesn't quite have a handle on when to work them and when to leave them alone. Here a horse lead rope has found a new use as a dog leash to help her remember to stay nearby until she hears "OK". We've got some work to do later, but she's just a pup for now.
The main dish at the end of the day is - what else - steaks on the grill.
7 comments:
I can remember your dad (I think?) coming over to help brand some cattle at our place. We used the chute though, which seems easier than wresting and holding?!
Hmm, ripped denim sewed with baler twine... sounds like an idea for curtains in a ranch house... :)
I really wanted to see a picture of pregnant Amy with ear tagger or better yet a scalpel in hand. That would put the fear of Mom into your kid someday.
Sorry Beck - I was rather useless this year! I wasn't allow near any kicking calves, although I did sneak in an run the gate and take a couple head ropes off. Nobody would let me do anything! But I think there is a photo or two from past years of me helping a calf through the gentle transition from bull to steer.
Chatty--the funny part is that they actually have a chute and tilt table now, but I guess it's just more fun the old way! I have to agree, but that's probably because I don't do the really hard work!
Sid is going to be so jealous when I tell him it's that time of year again...he always secretly wished he could be a cowboy for a day!
Ha, ha, you are funny! My idea of a great family day might be a little different!
Farm life, so interesting! Steak, now I would be there for that!
*sigh* I'm so jealous Ames....Maybe next year I can get down there for the best time of year :D We still don't have any animals...but hopefully we'll find some grass calves soon. Funny...we have a brand registered to our name and we only own 1/3 of a cull cow....
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