Branding photos from Thursday

[Soapweed]

Our son stayed home on Thursday to help us brand a bunch of 88 calves that afternoon. This was accomplished with just our crew of four, with the help of our "calf trap" invention. This year, we rigged up two of these gizmos to fit on the arms of a Hydra-bed pickup. This eliminates having to dig post holes, and it actually works pretty slick. The arms didn't even settle during the branding, as I was afraid they might.

Saddletramp coming in with a calf, caught by both hind legs

Guiding the rope into place

Securing the rope so it doesn't slip, done by clamping the vice-grips

Calf trap contraption in use

Working on a calf

Kosmo Kid kuttin' a kalf

Peach Blossom and my dad

 

[Jinglebob]

Looks like you had a nice day to do a fun job.

Does the calf move around any more or less, without the use of the post?

Is it my imagination or did ol' Saddle Teamp shed a few pounds this spring, or is it just because he doesn't have a coat on? :wink:

 

[rancher]

Nice big calves. When did you start calving? Looks like a lot of work to string the rope to the gizmo that high.

 

[ranchwife]

What perfect weather you had for your branding!! Too bad the "weather channel" has this storm that is socking us in right now as heading your way in the next day or two!! :wink: :wink:

 

[Soapweed]

Does the calf move around any more or less, without the use of the post?

Less. We like it better on the Hydra-bed than on a post.

Is it my imagination or did ol' Saddle Teamp shed a few pounds this spring, or is it just because he doesn't have a coat on? :wink:

Only his hair-dresser knows for sure. :wink:

 

[Soapweed]

Nice big calves. When did you start calving? Looks like a lot of work to string the rope to the gizmo that high.

The heifers started calving about the 20th of February, and the cows started calving on February 27th.

We did lower the Hydra-bed arm later on, as it didn't need to be quite that high.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

Soap does one side of the hydra bed work nicer then the other?

Is dad going to drag some calves this year?