Branding Day

Up goes the corral

Yes, it was that time of the year again - time to brand, castrate, and vaccinate the spring calves on Clint and Amanda's ranch. First things first, they had to erect the temporary corral. Amanda had also picked up a great canopy for some shade, so that was quickly put up. Then there was nothing to do but wait and socialise until the rest of the gang arrived to help with the roping etc. 

Waiting for the rest of the ropers

Emilie opens the gate to let us out to the paddock to bring the cattle in

Clint, Hayley, John, Josh and myself went out to bring the cows and calves in, and then once in the stockyard, we separated the calves from the cows. There were about 50 calves to be branded and vaccinated. The calves were roped, flipped on their right side, then they were branded on their left shoulder. The majority of male calves were also castrated (a few were kept out to be future breeders). 

What a fine team of cowboys/girls!

While that was happening, I vaccinated the calves with a potion that vaccinates against seven different diseases. The calves that got castrated got a second injection - tetanus. So before I injected each calf, I had to check whether it was a male or female, and if it was one to be castrated. The syringes are a decent size - here is one of them in front of the herd we had to round up. Although in this syringe is an antibiotic to treat a calf with foot rot - Clint is in the herd searching for the calf. See previous post!

All the calves are in the temporary corral ready for the branding

While Murray is branding this one I am moving around to get access to the neck for the vaccination

They start training them young!