Branding

What a lovely day it turned out to be.  The weather was perfect the extra help was great.  It was an experience.

The scene:

8 AM- Branding crew arrives. 
8:30 AM -gathering the cow herd into a small semi-circle enclosure.
8:45 AM -first calf was branded.  G described his expectations and jobs to everyone.
8:46 AM -I was trained to be a ear notcher. I notched each calves ears as they came in for a brand.  The branding law includes ear notches not just the burn mark.
9:20 AM -I learned how to flank a calf as it was hauled in by a ropper.  Grabbing tails and rope to flop them over on their left side for branding.
9:21-11:00 AM -lots of calves were branded and the whole crew ran around.  We also gave vaccinations and castrated bulls.  
11:01 AM- I branded little Atticus.  G asked me if I wanted to brand and I said yes.  But it happened to be Atticus who was up next. 
11:15 AM- 113 calves branded.

11:30-3 party!

3-9 relax and go to bed. 

end.

 Rounding the herd up

 Pre-branding set up

 How to properly hold a calf

Me branding little Atticus