The class of 2014…
It’s COFFEE and SCROLL time… (lots of easy-viewing pics ahead!)
Today you get to ride with Mr Incredible, Cal and myself as we skim over a 4-day period, during our weaning here at Granite Glen.
We begin as the boys take the cows back to their paddock, after being drafted off from their half-grown offspring. They are all pregnant with their next babies and need some time to themselves, to maintain their condition through winter and probably havea facial or pedicure before they give birth in Spring.
I love the boys’ traditional ‘riding out’ pose here.
Loose rein in right hand: CHECK.
Serious expression: CHECK.
Left hand on thigh: CHECK!
The calves are a bit sad to see Mum go…
Although it should be noted that most cows head straight back to their paddocks. Some of those calves are nearly as tall as mum and are perfectly capable of doing without milk – those girls need a break, man!
Once back in the yards we work the weaners… no dogs required for this part of the job (sorry Sparky, have a little rest near the fence while we work.)
There are some pretty cute faces in the crowd… hello handsome boy! This one’s a proper little bull already…
And this little delightful lady – she has a bit more Angus in her pedigree and has sweet sticky-out hairy ears.
Hello Big Red… taking it all in there. I do wonder what they think sometimes… probably ‘Where is my food, woman!’
While it’s all a bit strange for them without Mum, they soon settle down and take proceedings in their stride.
This shot was taken over my shoulder as I leaned on the bottom rail of the fence… look at these sticky beaks checking out the weird human.
Gorgeous girls posing in a row – I wonder if the one on the right is the coolest chick in this class??
Or is it this one?
Oh yes…
A lot of sorting into mobs goes on – bulls with bulls, steers with steers, heifers with heifers…
And innoculating and worming too. We want our herd as healthy as possible!And let’s not forget eating…
Lots and lots of eating.
We had a break-out at one stage, with calves getting out of the yards and back with their Mums. One calf was found with his face pressed against the fence wanting back in… obviously it’s not such a bad place to be!
Did I mention these guys are sticky beaks? This young bull just wanted to lick the lense!
Each process helps them accept us in their midst.
They even start posing for me now!
Not so much my husband though – I am still working on him!
Then it’s time to walk them out.
We don’t have a set-up condusive to ‘tailing out’ here – a process where the weaners get taken into a small paddock by the yard and worked gently before being put back into the yard a few times before being put in their paddocks. We just do one big walkout. It’s a little nerve-wracking sometimes because they aren’t used to walking as a mob without older cattle. Our terrian is pretty hilly with lots of gullies and some heavily treed areas. Lots of hiding places if they feel naughty – it can all be a bit unpredictable.
But these guys…
They just wanted to eat.
These are our little bulls, on their way home to our house, where I will get to know them all over the next couple of weeks.
Dani the dog kept them moving along – she’s a wonderful dog who came from a friend of mine. Our dogs make this job SOOO much less stressful – keeping the mob tidy without us moving too fast (or alarmingly for the cattle) on our horses.
There really is NOTHING like this job when the cattle are content and behaved, the grass has a little green in it, and the sky is blue…
Young men marching over the hill…
They will spend the next year or so with these same paddock-mates. Until they go to their new homes, to be Big Bulls with more serious duties.
A cool fresh drinking in a trickling stream adds to the positive experience in their first big walk.
I should mention my (borrowed) steed Nancy. She was such a sweetie and did not complain about all the clicking from above!
My husband in the lead, his dogs patrolling the edges to ‘tuck’ any wayward weaners back into the mob.
And before you know it, we are there.
Home. 
Where Cal and I sit with them all for about 20 minutes, to make sure they are content and settled (and not heading off in a rush to bust a fence somewhere!).
Aaaahhhhh…. what a beautiful sight for (this farmer’s) eyes.
Hope you enjoyed the start of the 2014 weaning too! You will be seeing more of these boys in the days ahead …
17 Comments
Kelly
What a delightful post – I thoroughly enjoyed it!! I’m always amazed by the size of your operation.
I watched our handful of yearlings leave with the cattle broker today and it always makes me a wee bit sad.
Looking forward to seeing more of your gang!
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Anne@GritandGiggles
Well you have been busy recently. What a skill, riding and photographing at the same time. These young’ins are looking healthy. I hope they enjoy their new home and being the focus of your lens many a time.
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Colin Huggins
Excellent summary.
When do you select the calves to miss the knife? How long do you keep the young bulls before they are sold?
I reckon the cows would have been happy to see the retreating backsides of these big boys.
What about the heifers and the steers? Different paddocks no doubt? And at what age will you start breeding the heifers – 2 years old???
Looks like you got plentiful rain for the winter, no doubt some follow ups would be “the icing on the cake/paddocks”.
Fantastic summation of life on your property and the work that is entailed.
Cheers
Colin
BB of Oz
Gosh a lot of questions there Colin!!
Yes different paddocks for bulls, stud heifers, commercial heifers and steers.
Two years old for our breeders – possible to start breeding them younger but our country is not rich enough to support them through that.
Some rain and a little grass growth – not out of the proverbial woods yet though!
🙂
Hippomanic Jen
I miss that view between the ears of a good horse. *sigh*
Lynda M Otvos
Thanks for all those great photos, BB, I love to see your working ranch and its components. We’re loving the long days here; it was 8:30 and still pretty bright tonight.
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BB of Oz
Days very short here Lynda… sun up 6.30am and gone soon after 5pm!!
Carrie M
Great pics and post. Thank you. Always a joy.
Merry-Anne
Great pics and beautiful country and beasts. I hope to come and visit one day if that’s ok. Hubby and I love the country. Great blog.
Bill
Everything looks grand.
Ellie k
I love seeing the cattle and the operation there. Keep up the good work of educating us. Thanks
debby
I loved riding along with you and the critters, BB.
constance
Just out of curious nature, do your horses neck rein? I ask because you mention the riders having reins in right hand. Cutters and ropers in our neck of the woods keep reins in left hand … generally speaking. Two handed reining was looked down upon where I learned to ride, as was hanging onto the saddle horn. Is right handed reining the ‘done thing?’ Where did you find “Nancy” and is it also the done thing to roach horses manes there now? Just trying to keep up with the international trends …. love your blog and those cattle are magnificent!
Colin Huggins
Constance.
When way back I learnt to ride – after the crawling and walking, reins of horses depended on whether you were right handed or left handed. As I was right handed, the reins were held in the LEFT hand, the right being used for the carrying of the whip. The two hands on the reins are really for the Olympics etc. – the equestrian competitors or for show riding – pony clubs etc.
So I suppose it really depends on left or right handed for the rider. I recall the old drovers here frowning on you if you dared to use both hands on the reins! They called you VERY NAUGHTY NAMES!
Fleur McDonald
Probably a good thing that Mr I isn’t keen on licking the lenses… Posing, that’s a different story!!! 😛
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debby
LOL at Fleur.
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