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Another day at the office, June 5, 2009

S

Soapweed

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
16,264
Location
northern Nebraska Sandhills
GatheringourGooseLakepasture.jpg

Gathering our Goose Lake pasture
Wehadntbrandedthecalvesfromthefirst.jpg

He hadn't branded the calves from the first calf heifers yet, so thought today would be a nice cool day to accomplish the task.
Bradycamebacktohelptoday.jpg

Brady came back to help today.
Me.jpg

My muddy mount and me
Pushingthecattleintoastackyard.jpg

Pushing the herd into a stackyard no longer containing hay, where portable panels had been set up
Thecrewreadytobrandcalves.jpg

The crew ready to brand calves
Thecalvesreadyforaction.jpg

The calves ready for action
Thewheelsreadyforaction.jpg

The calf trap wheels ready for action
Fairlyheftycalves.jpg

Fairly hefty calves. About seventy of them were born before the first of March.
Plottingtheirstrategies.jpg

Plotting their strategies
Bradyroping.jpg

Brady roping
TheKosmoKidsturnwiththetwine.jpg

The Kosmo Kid's turn with the twine
ThreeoftheequinemembersofthecrewonR.jpg

Three of the equine members of the crew enjoying a bit of R and R at noon
Thecrewandguests.jpg

The crew and some afternoon guests, as photographed by my dad
MydadandJFRanchsdad.jpg

My dad and JF Ranch's dad. They are first cousins, and both have much ranching experience.
GotthebrandingdoneThecattleareheade.jpg

The calves have been branded, and the cattle are headed back out to pasture.
Thecalveswereprettybigbutwewon.jpg

Some of the calves were pretty big, but our five person branding crew won the match and we branded 198 head
during the course of the day. My question is, could five people using Nordforks have done the same?
 
198 calves branded is a good days work,using your gizmo or the fork.
guess there is more than one way to git er dun,you did it your way and you done good.....................good luck
 
We used Nordforks this year and they aren't to bad. Branding landed on graduation and there wasn't the help there and I even ran one. I know shock shock.
 
Is branding complete yet. Just think of the spectacular spring spectacle if you tried branding them all on the same day.
 
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
---------------------------------------------------------------

We tried using a table a few years back, took us forever
and we were played out when the day was over.

Soapweed's crew gets 'er done and visits while doing it.
Those two ole' ranchers look like they were enjoying watching
the action.
 
My folks neighbor runs 1200 head and all they use now are Nordforks. They get everything done in time to have a beer before lunch.
 
Faster horses said:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
---------------------------------------------------------------

We tried using a table a few years back, took us forever
and we were played out when the day was over.

Soapweed's crew gets 'er done and visits while doing it.
Those two ole' ranchers look like they were enjoying watching
the action.
Click to expand...

Not wanting to steal this thread but our crew of three can brand, dehorn about 30%, vaccinate, and implant steer calves at a rate of about 40-45 per hr. The steers are all banded at birth or castrating would slow us down considerably. I do enjoy heeling calves but the rest of the crew likes the table and not having to cook for a larger crew so I am outvoted. I do think Soap's gizmo is the answer for dragging calves and getting it done with a small crew.
 
Faster horses said:
Agreed.

I wouldn't want to cook after doing all that work either. :shock: :wink: :P :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Click to expand...

you shouldn't have to, just have a bbq, and have the husband grill some burgers :wink: :)
 
I'm talking about using the calf table, Justin.
Not wanting to cook after doing everything gcreek mentioned. :shock:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Seriously, I know a lot of people who get by fine using a
table. Our neighbor in W. Montana used one and we helped.
It worked good.
 
Faster horses said:
I'm talking about using the calf table, Justin.
Not wanting to cook after doing everything gcreek mentioned. :shock:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Seriously, I know a lot of people who get by fine using a
table. Our neighbor in W. Montana used one and we helped.
It worked good.
Click to expand...

i decided a sereral years ago to try a table.......the thought has never crossed my mind since. we did get the job done with alot less help..that was about the only thing positive thing i got out of it. but i agree FH, there are many that use calf tables and wouldn't do it any other way....i say, whatever pulls your trigger. the table is handy to have around, we usually run 10-15 late calves ours every year, just my wife and i.....but that is the max. # of calves I can stand using a table. if i had a bale bed, i would like to try Soap's method...looks like a hell of a good idea to me.
 
The first calf table that showed up in this country was borrowed by one of the oldtimers in the area. He set it up in the middle of a big corral and the help wrassled the calves into it without any runway whatsoever. :nod: :dunce:


Just like branding crews, various makes of tables can be good or otherwise, :wink:
 
gcreekrch said:
The first calf table that showed up in this country was borrowed by one of the oldtimers in the area. He set it up in the middle of a big corral and the help wrassled the calves into it without any runway whatsoever. :nod:
Click to expand...


Isn't that how everybody does it? :shock: :D
 

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