Let's Talk Cattle Care!

Today is branding day on our farm. Branding is not only a really important step in caring for our calves, but it is also a huge connection to our western heritage and tradition. Friends and family gather to help us out and make the job way easier. 
The night before branding the entire herd is brought up from the pasture into our corral system. In the morning the calves are sorted out from the cows. After sorting we eat together and ensure that our branding crew is well fed and hydrated. The branding crew heads out and will move a small number of calves into the "tub", a round pen with a swinging gate that encourages the calves to move single file into the "chute". The chute is a narrow aisle that leads to a cattle squeeze. Once the calf has moved into the cattle squeeze the head gate is closed and the sides are pushed together to hold the calf still. This gives us the opportunity to closely look over each calf one by one. 
The calf is vaccinated. We use one vaccine to protect against a blood disease that can occur if the animal gets a cut or scratch while in pastures as well as 7 other common diseases found in cows.
The calf is then branded with a hot iron. I often get asked about how painful this is for the calf. It is important to remember that a calf's hide is much thicker than human skin. A brand is uncomfortable, but it is over quickly. Calves return to their calm nature very soon after the branding and do not even seem to notice the mark. The brand is there to identify that animal as ours. There are other ways to identify an animal but none as inexpensive or permanent as this option. Cattle theft still happens and the brand is the way that cattle sellers, auction marts, and cattle buyers help to prevent it. 
Each calf is given an ear tag. The ear tag is pierced into the calf's ear. This is another identifier and helps us to track the number and gender of each calf. If the calf is male a rubber band is placed around the testicles using a castrating tool. They will lose blood supply and fall off the body, making the bull calf a steer. 
Then the calf is released from the squeeze and kept in a holding pen with its herd mates then returned to the cows. 
After all of the calves have been branded they and the cows are let out to pastures where we rotational graze them through the summer months.