Cow Catching!

[cowcatcher]

Hi, I'm new to the board. I looked at some older posts and saw there are some here that use cow dogs to work cattle. Here in NC we pen and catch cattle for the public. Mostly wild cattle that have been out a while and the owner has tried every thing else to get them caught. I will use anything to get the cows caught. I have black mouth curs from stock from east texas. I have hound cur crosses from bear dog stock. If it's rope'm and drag'em in trailer it's cur bulldog cross with all curs turned loose and my stout horse Woodrow. Pastre penning is curs or if I worked them before I use Border collie or kelpies. Would like to here from others and thier experiences. Hey Jersey Lilly. I saw an old post you had about catching some cows and loading in traler but the pictures were no longer there. Post them for me please. A few years ago I had S&H build me a 24 foot trailer open top back 8 feet with dally balls welded on. 2 divider gates with slides to work cattle. Love talking cow dogs and using horses.

[Big Muddy rancher]

Welcome Cowcatcher, We used to have a young guy post on here from Texas that used his dogs on cows and hogs. He hasn't been posting much lately. We ranch and use our dog a Border collies some but not as much as we should. Some times when moving cows with young calves it can cause more problems then help.
We raise train and use Quarter horses on the ranch couldn't do it with out them.
I;m looking forward to seeing some pictures of your dogs in action.

[Jinglebob]

[Big Muddy rancher]

[ropesanddogs]

How are you doing? I also have a trailer like yours,we call them ketch trailers,or wheat pasture trailers.We catch alot of outside cattle for people.but we always use leapord,or cur dogs,we never switch up,because you never know when a cow is going to break and you need a dog with some catch which is hard to find in anything else.We haul the same dogs every day,and i stand firm that the only way youre gonna make a good dog is to keep him with you all the time,so he can get to know you.Im only 17,but i have been fortunate enough to be around good hands that werent afraid to take a chance on me.I do try to stay quiet,so when you do get me to talkin its hard to shut me up lol.We do our best to pen everything,but if theres somethin thats sure enough rank,we dont waste alot of time chousin her around,catch it,load it and move on,but we always make sure that people who hire us understand that we will do it if we see fit...I wasnt aware there were that many cattle to catch in NC.Didnt the king ranch have a division up there? Then again the biggest cow/calf operation is in florida..Sorry to be so long winded,im at the office waiting on a lady to bring me two Colts to start.What else do you do to supplement your income?I start alot of Colts,and im going to Horseshoeing school next summer...Anyhow if youd like to talk dogs,or anything similar,hollar at me @ cclacina@cvtv.net .

Take Care,
Colt L

[cowcatcher]

There are a lot of cattle in NC, just not as many large ranches or farms as Florida. Most are small. Of course some places can run a cow per acre because of all the grass. NC is huge in the number of chicken houses all over. To get rid of the waste from so many houses, chicken litter is spread onto pasture as fertilizer, cattle of course convert grass to beef, and well, cows all over the state. Alot of times fences are not very good. Some picture of my dogs can be seen at http://bradyranch.tripod.com/

[kolanuraven]

Love yer Blue Valentine!! Don't blame ya...I'd not rent pigs either!

[TWOROPES]

Good hard hitting curs!! We also use Blackmouths, catahoulas and Lacy dogs for catching jobs. I have a 16 ft S+H THAT IS PRETTY RAGGED. If you want to see the best built cowcatching trailer made, go to bigbendtrailers.com. Im sure you do have some cow stopping dogs, as I have also caught cows on small places, pain in the a_ _ if you dont have room to run the fresh off a cow before she hits a ragged old fence, and you have to rely on dogs to bay her up first. Sorry, I get long winded sometimes.

[cowcatcher]

Two Ropes, I went to that site. Those are good looking trailers. Mine is an S&H also. I had mine made 24ft. I have'nt had any problems with mine except the inside slide gates. Cattle put alot of pressure on those slides. Oh yea, when loading an 1900 pound bull(Rodeo bull) he bent back one of the rear butterfly gates. Would love to see some pics of those curs. Paul

[DJL]

What different worlds we live in when it comes to using dogs. I use Border Collies, and wouldn't be without them as they are aggressive when necessary, but otherwise herd quietly. I've never been around cur dogs, but for most of the cattle up here, such aggressiveness is unecessary. Post some pics of your dogs at work. I'd like to see them in action.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

cowcatcher, sorry I just read this thread and seen your request to go back and post the pictures that were gone. Hadda do some lookin, that was a while back. Here they are plus a few more from a few years ago of a Bull that was holed up in the creek. Most times the dogs are used for just roundin em up and drivin em to the lot, but when we have a problem gettin a bull in like this time..(only time we've had a problem like this) they use the dogs to get the bull outta the water. They work on the head end and the bull will chase em out, so that the guys can get behind him and drive him on to the pens. Bull wasnt hurt, just madder than all git out.

[cowcatcher]

Jersey lilly, Great pics, thanks. Would love to hear about your dogs. Breeding, if it's a local line of curs, etc. As far as border collies, yea, I use them to, but not usually on the worse catching jobs. I can back my curs out or dump out just 1 or 2 for penning most pasture cattle, just drive the cattle to the pen like old time cur style(lead dogs). When not having time to teach the cattle will use catchy type dogs if needed to get the job done. If they have been out in the woods long they get wild as deer around here. A few pics at http://bradyranch.tripod.com
Thanks, Paul