Cattlework – crushes and cradles
Lots of hands on and computer work involved. 
If you think I was feeling the pressure, you’d be spot on!
Not that the view, while one is waiting for the cattle to come into the yards, isn’t worth all the hassle…
It is! Hello Mr I.
So why do we do it (branding)?
Stud branding allows cattle producers to: visually identify their own stock (and prevent theft or duffing), use electronic tagging to help identify via computer each animal for life on a national system, and to trace the inter-paddock and inter-property movements of each animal (vital in keeping our industry safe from disease, and responding quickly if disease ever does strike), identify bloodlines that are producing excellent qualities (and those that are not), identifying animals that may be show quality, vaccinating against various diseases (keeping our cows as healthy as possible!) and treating any injuries (such as dingo bites). Whew!
The actual process of Stud branding happens like this:
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Muster breeder cattle paddock-by-paddock
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Draft off calves from cows
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Scan each cow electronically (as she walks through a ‘crush’ or narrow fenced walkway) into a portable reader
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Replace missing eartags and NLIS tags (electronic IDs)
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Dip cows (treating for ticks and buffalo flies)
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Count them out (from the ‘draining pen’ into the yard)
Aside: What are buffalo flies (I hear you ask)?
Aside over, back to the branding process…
Calves are then individually taken through their own special mini crush to the cradle, and:
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Branded with the herd brand, year number and management number
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Eartagged with management number and NLIS electronic ID tag
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Vaccinated
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Assessed for type, poll (lack of horns), and any faults
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De-testicled (if they boys and not outstanding bull calves)
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Returned to their mothers and ‘mothered up’*
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Returned as a herd to their paddock, where the calves recover, suckle and cavort once more, the cows eat grass and ask each other: “What the heck was THAT all about?”
A whole lot of palava goes on in the office (bor-ring!) after this point, with entering all the accumulated data into a stock program, but I think that’s enough for Stud Branding 101.
Don’t you?
So how are we, dear readers?
Any fainting fits?
Questions?
Offers of help for the next brand?
(All kitchen floor cleaning gratefully accepted!)
🙂
BB
*’Mothering up’ explained in the next post.
24 Comments
Woman in a Window
Uncannily well timed. Although I’m not so sure I’d be up for this right away, but I was just waxing romantic about farming. Always easier when you’re on the other side of the hill.
I’m glad you introduced yourself! Nice to meet you.
erin
Cactus Jack Splash
Thanks for posting this. Brought back some memories of springs spent on my grandpa’s cattle ranch
Mom L
Wow! My excuses for not mopping the floor, etc., are pretty lame by comparison! Dishes in the sink? Aw, gee, I don’t have a dishwasher…. I’m worn out just from reading your blog today!
Nancy in Atlanta (Diane’s Mom)
Kate
So fun! Okay, very hard work, and maybe not so fun for you with so many cattle. When i helped my neighbor with it there where 40 or so head so it was pretty fun. I got to do ear tags, dipping and shots. I also got to smoosh the mama’s in a big…cattle-smoosher (i can’t think of the name!). It was actually a little scary, they are very big and strong and not happy about being away from their babies.
Anyway, love the pics, that Brahma bull is gorgeous! Just let me know if you need help, i’ll hop a plane down to Australia 🙂
Reddirt Woman
I was gonna’ say that I’m a good floor mopper, but not so much of a cook, so I don’t know if I’d be much help. But I can do laundry and iron… It would be awesome to be able to help if you could promise I’d have a view almost as good as yours.
I hope the bush fires have started settling down, but you have to keep on with what you have to keep on with, don’t you..
Helen
Reddunappy
So Australia has a national id program for livestock? does that include horsed too? here in the states they are trying to get something like this up and running, with much bulking by the animal owners, people are taking it like an invasion of privacy. It is a lot of extra paperwork but do you think it is a good thing, I have three horses and would have to have them registered with the program too.
Reddunappy
or is is baulking LOL spelling sometimes LOL
Reddunappy
I am going to hog your blog for a min LOL
I just have to say, what beautiful scenery, for a yank it brings up the romantic “man from snowy river” as you have posted about before, I know its not that “romantic” when your out in the heat doing the work! but again, beautiful pictures!!!
Rose
Did you hear me cringe and suck in my breath when I saw the flaming brand pressed against soft cow flesh?? Ouch. Worth all the trouble obviously! Interesting post 🙂
Pony Girl
Sounds like a lot of work and I might be crazy for saying this, but I’d rather help with the cattle than clean the kitchen floor, lol! 😉
Nice pictures to accomodate your post!
Bush Babe
Hey there all.
Rose – they seem to recover well, we monitor them. Kinda like a tattoo I guess but heaps quicker!
Redunappy – you are making my comment count look impressive! Heh. Thanks for the compliment – plenty of trees and bush around these parts, that’s for sure! Not sure about National Horse ID (don’t think so but stand to be corrected) but I do think its an essential thing for cattle. We are foot-and-mouth and mad cow disease free over here and want to keep it that way – and if those diseases ever do come, it means we can isolate potentially affected areas immediately and stop the spread. Here endeth the NLIS lecture!
Helen – all sweeping and mopping welcomed! Please note that we are a long way from the bushfires here in Queensland – they are affecting southern NSW and Victoria (and some parts of SA?). More than 1000km away. And the floods are about the same distance to the north (Qld is a huge state!). We are very, very lucky.
Kate – I’ll book you and Helen a room!
Nancy – have a cuppa and lie down for me, OK!
CJS – tell us about it!
erin – Welcome … yeah, wax away. I’m a weido and find it romantic and spectacular despite all the dust and stuff.
🙂
Bush Babe
PG – I am with you, girl!!! Heh.
A Novel Woman
Nothing like my life. Not even close.
Wow. I love these glimpses into your life.
jeanie
Oh, I think I have done it once or twice in my life.
Short straw “wins” the bringing the calves up!
Hal Johnson
Sheesh, your post is sure interesting, but I’m tired just visualizing all that work!
Anonymous
Traumatized! nope, PW took care of that 🙂 But I would gladly mop your floors, cook or whatever for a chance for a trip to Australia!!! Your tutorial was VERY interesting and Mr. I is not hard on the eyes at all:-)
Signed
Theresa in Alberta (Canada)
To The Manor Boyle
Great post – showing a slice of country life. I fall into the category of Catus Jack – though we hail from Sheep Stock.. And I am afraid NSW is a little far to travel to help out with the homeduties…
Thanks for dropping by..
Cheers,
Audrey.
steviewren
Sorry, can’t help you with that nasty floor…have one of my own I am trying to avoid.
Thanks for your comments about J. I did know about your scary times with your young Dash. I’m glad they’re far behind you all. Hopefully my friend won’t have to wait much longer.
I'm Julie
Given that I read this over my morning toast ‘n’ tea – mmmm buffalo flies, testicles, burning skin…
Ah, you’re worth it Bush Babe – the photos and the education are worth it!
Mikey
ooo good stuff! I’ve always wanted a peek into what y’all do down there. I like that you have the national ID system, they’re trying to do that here and meeting with resistance. I like that you’ve been so successful and it seems like a good idea to me.
Thanks for the post!
Tami
Enjoy all your pictures….but these horses, cattle, oh my! Love em.
Debby
ooh. My comment didn’t take. My hand went up, I’m volunteering my services. Problem is I’m a greenhorn, not a horsewoman, and just about useless. Still need my services?
Bush Babe
You should all know that I am taking offers of help TOTALLY seriously. You are booked in – mostly to proof-read my posts before they go up next time… sheesh. Talk about typos!
All stockwomen and men, and house help welcomed!!
Heh
BB
Danielle Michelle
Anytime you need an extra hand – I’m game!!! We still have about 4 months to go before branding season starts here and we move the cattle to the mountain pasture for the summer. It’s a lot of hard work but I love it (and I want a serious excuse to one day visit Australia)!