Some of them will spend the summer here. The creek is still flowing. Hopefully our springs rains aren't over yet.
Branding day dawned clear and cold. Our neighbors, Jimmy and Lisa, arrived on their horses ready to round up all the cows and calves. With the help of their dogs they had the whole herd in the barnyard in short order.
As they separated the cows off and pushed them back out to the pasture, Rob and I took the hay out and fed it. This gave the mama cows a slight diversion while the calves were getting vaccinated, castrated and branded.
There were four ropers. They would rope the calf's back legs then drag them to the guys holding the Nordfork. The guys would slip it over the calf's head and it holds the calf still, as the ground crew does their jobs, fast and efficiently! :)
Once in a while the roper will pull the calf in too fast or the guy on the ground is too slow, and the nordfork misses the mark. Branding is all volunteer help, its a time for guys to practice their roping skills, (or retired ranchers to see it they can still rope) and help us at the same time. It's also a time for fellow ranchers to get together and help each other.
Lisa dragging in a calf.
Leonard dragging in a calf.
We had friends from the Payette area come and help. We were very grateful for all the help we got!!
Rob did most of the branding, Josh grabbed an iron when the calves were coming in too fast.
Debbie and Carolyn gave shots, I weaseled out of it this year. I didn't do anything but stand around and take pictures. I did give some timely advice once or twice!! :)
What started out to be a very chilly day ended with lots of sunshine. They finished branding right at lunchtime. There were 99 calves branded, the 100th calf was born the day before so he will get branded in the fall with the rest of the late calves.
