Trail-Sort-Trail

While I was working at the library, they brought the cows down to the place we call “The Double Crossing”. The name stems from the old wagon road that had to cross the Nowood twice right here. The modern highway doesn’t cross the creek at all, thanks to big dirt moving machines.

You often are the recipient of Double Crossing photos…

I liked the sun in this one, it resembles a jellyfish with tentacles trailing below…

Cows can stay here just a couple of days… there’s not enough grass to stay longer. We had to make two trips to the Double Crossing, the first time bringing the cows that were stacked in the corner, ready to go. Our corral won’t hold all of our cattle at once, and since it’s just a mile away, it’s easy to make two trips.

We sorted the cows from the heifers, with a few of the older, “broken-mouth” cows we might be selling going in with the heifers. Sorting is a dance of swinging gates following the rhythm of eartag numbers being called, followed by “by” or “in” as Brandon consults his paperwork.

The cows know the process, and often try to sort themselves back up the alley before we have time to check to see if they’re on the list or not! If you’re anxious about being surrounded by 1,000 pound animals, this is NOT the place for you!

Quickly, the first bunch is sorted and kicked out of the gate. They know they are heading for the BLM allotments and off they go.

While some of us follow them to the next pasture, others return to the Double Crossing to gather the remaining cows. (We had to tear down some majestic cottonwoods and this is the pile of wood from that!)

Bravo was pretty stoked about the entire thing… he needs more of this. Every day. He has the makings of a good dog. He just needs practice! See him?

Anyway… more trailing. More sorting.

Followed by more trailing.

The next day, these cows would go out to the allotment where they’ll stay, hopefully, until January.

Find me here!

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