• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Moooving Cows yesterday

randiliana

Well-known member
Yesterday we moved all our steer and cull heifer calves and their mamas to a new pasture. The calves will go on creepfeed (whole oats) from now until we sell them.

Starting out
DSC05411.jpg


The ones left behind.
DSC05415.jpg


Onto the grid
DSC05417.jpg


And we're off
DSC05420.jpg


Bridge #1
DSC05425.jpg


DSC05428.jpg


These girls know the way
DSC05429.jpg


Down the highway they go
DSC05430.jpg


A big steer
DSC05434.jpg


Traffic isn't a problem for these girls
DSC05435.jpg


DSC05437.jpg


And into the gate
DSC05440.jpg
 

Shortgrass

Well-known member
We used to trail cattle down the black top. Occasionally we would have one that balked at the pavement and get another story to tell about what would work to get em to cross. Sometimes it was nothing but tie them on the end of my twine. Shucks.............
 

randiliana

Well-known member
Shortgrass said:
We used to trail cattle down the black top. Occasionally we would have one that balked at the pavement and get another story to tell about what would work to get em to cross. Sometimes it was nothing but tie them on the end of my twine. Shucks.............

We have never had trouble with the blacktop. But, I have helped other people trail cattle and know what you are talking about. On the other hand, those bridges have given us a heck of a time, at times. We finally have the girls trained, and they cross them without much trouble now.
 

High Plains

Well-known member
We once moved cows off of a desert lease and had to cross a railroad track to get them to the shipping pens. We had what we thought was plenty of time to cross the tracks in between trains, according to the railroad schedule. Like a bunch of dummies, we didn't account for a huge amount of trouble in getting the cows to accept this crossing idea. Luckily, after roping several calves and pulling them across we got the boss cows enticed to take the proper steps in plenty of time before the next train. (By the way, I was too young to be on the planning committee, so I'm exempt from any blame :wink: )

It was touch and go, and I wouldn't want to re-trace that day's events anytime soon. We were sweating it!

HP
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
The most excitement I remember in moving cows was on the Powder River in Wyoming. The calves were small and we had to get them across the river. No way, was ANY COW CRITTER crossing that river on that particular day. Finally, after several fruitless attempts at getting the cattle to cross the river, Mr. FH and another young man, roped a couple of calves around the neck and headed across the river at a high lope.

Now some of you may know the Powder River--"a mile wide and an inch deep. Too thin to plow and too thick to drink"--so it was quite a ways across it.

Those calves looked like little speed boats going through all that water.

I was pretty shook up watching, as I didn't understand what was going on for sure. When they got across, the guys got off and took the ropes off the calves. They did this a few more times to get several calves across. Of course, when the babies started bawling the cows proceeded to cross the river.

I did learn the rope kept the calves from swallowing water or getting any in their lungs...and of course time was of the essence.
It worked well, and none of the calves were the worse for wear.

But it sure was discouraging, when some of those old cows immediately brought their calves back to the original side... :shock: :shock: :shock:
 

Latest posts

Top