As anyone that has livestock can attest… whether it’s cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, or goats… the words you DON’T want to hear are, “The __________ are out.” Now, you can fill in that blank with the various livestock you own, or you can fill it with some creative descriptive words.
A few creative descriptive words might have been floating around our place.
When you wean calves, they aren’t happy. They bawl. They walk the perimeter of the corral. They want to go back to momma. Surprisingly enough, even though they were hauled down the mountain in semis, I bet they’d find a way to get all the way back up there. But we really try not to have that happen!
Megan was on her way to Ten Sleep to take treats in to Quinlan’s class for his birthday party, when she spied our newly weaned calves in the Double Crossing, a small pasture almost a mile from where they should have been in the corral. She couldn’t help, obviously, but she called Tess and I and said she’d track down Vernon. Daniel and Brandon were up on the mountain helping a neighbor, so it was up to us!
Tess and I met calves at the gate of the Double Crossing. We were both in our side by side UTVs. Amazingly enough, the calves turned easily and headed back in the correct direction.
Well, that was good. However, the majority of the pasture is covered in willows and boxelder trees. I suggested I take little Reagan with me and that Tess return to the barn and grab a horse.
The calves acted like they knew they should return to the corral. The majority did… but some were “stranded” on a brushy point.
They didn’t want to cross the creek. Vernon showed up about then, and while he moved them downstream, I followed the majority to the corral, and hustled them inside.
Johnny joined the fray on his four wheeler, and Tess worked hard trying to kick calves across the creek horseback.
My partner tipped over. It always amazes me when kids can sleep through yelling and calves bawling and engine motors and dogs barking.
Daniel and Brandon came home to help put the last of the calves back into the corral. They also got the fun job of setting new posts and repairing the corral.
Just another adventure in ranch life!
Nothing is easy!
Those calves at the front of the gate look like they’re just waiting for you to get out of sight so they can plot another escape.
So relieved for the happy ending!
Never a dull moment.
we only had a few cows, but weaning time was still many hours of listening to calves bawling, I want my mama!
You were only going to sit down, watch tv and eat bon bons. tee hee Great work ladies.