School’s out and the ringers are UP!
It’s mustering time here at our place… time to saddle up, load up, step up and cowgirl (or cowboy) up!!
The school holidays began for us last week, and unlike many schoolchildren around the country, our lot know that things don’t slow down when school ends… the action is just beginning to crank up. Our mustering crew (of cowboys and cowgirls, or as we refer to them in Oz: ringers) this year consists of Mr Incredible (naturally, he’s the Boss), Dash and Violet, my niece Salina (who has just FINISHED year 12!) and…
Introducing you to T… our newest recruit and keen member of the Granite Glen gang.
Violet is adoring having another girl to chew the fat with. They are pictured here having just returned a mob of cows to their paddock. They could be talking about horses (99% possibility) or cows. Cause, you know… cowgirls!!
Our main task at this time of year is to gather in our cows and calves, so we can vaccinate the babies against disease – they require two lots of the vaccine about six weeks apart. (The next round, we also brand). We jam these jobs into each end of the summer school holidays – because that’s when the majority of our workforce is available! Plus it’s a lot of fun…
A scene from the paddock … these two young bull calves are not actually this cow’s offspring. She is cycling and they are … well, being little bulls! You can also see how very dry it is getting here… local storms have been pretty much avoiding us so far.
This one DOES belong to the cow he is following… a cracking young Brangus bull calf too!
Dash behind a mob of black Brangus cows as they arrive close to the yards…
Salina (did I mention she has completed school? Blows my mind!) with Violet bringing the cows through the gates into the yards… see the little follower behind Chi Chi and Violet?
Little babies like this – who is maybe a day old -can get a bit confused about who their Mama is on these journeys… more on this little guy in a blog post soon!
The team take to the ground (mostly) then, moving the cows around the yards…
And begin sorting the calves off – I love this shot of the ‘gatekeepers’ – Mr I bringing in the cows, T at the first gate blocking any stray calves, Violet at first slide gate and Saline backing up mid-crush!
A closer shot of T on the pound gate, as Mr I and Dash brought the cattle through, trying to only let up the cows.
Salina helped push the mamas along the crush and to the dip – where they got to cool off and get rid of any parasites (like ticks) while they waited for their babies. (This is a brindle coloured cow from a commercial mob we were working).
The work has been REALLY hot over the past few days – over 40C most days – so lots and lots of hydration has to happen as everyone works. As I am manning the notebook tallies, the water offerings tend to be my job.
Then it’s the calves turn for some attention.
They are encouraged through the pound and into the crush in lots of five. They are trickier to get to move as they have not experienced being in a mob without their mothers to follow.
We try and keep this process as calm as possible – it’s their first experience in yards and we want it to be a good one.
I also adore the little moments like these ones…
A glance between father and son…
And an ex-show bull getting a quick scratch through the rails from Violet.
The calves are reassured by Dash…
Before being inoculated by Mr I.
A quick needle each and they are done.
Ready to trickle back out of the crush to their cooled-off mamas.
Another little moment…
This kid owns my heart… and he cracks me up!
He’s also a pretty handy rider, pictured here ready to draft cows and calves on Cherokee.
Our crack crew – Dash, Salina, T and Mr I…
And Violet cantering back to get into the action too.
A wall of riders… those cows and their bubs had no chance of slipping back into the mob!
Violet still talking horses (see start of this very long post!) as Salina enjoys some reversing action on Taszar.
We are about halfway through this round of mustering – thankfully the weather has settled down a bit and is ‘only’ hitting the mid-t0-high 30s each day now. We have been thankful for our pool which has been getting a huge workout from hot and tired workers (young and not-so-young) at the end of each day.
Finishing off with a sweet sunset from last night…
Hope you enjoyed this peek into our working school holidays!
😀
Never say 'never again'
19 Comments
Gail Robertson
Terrific Amanda. Love sharing the journey. I’m amazed at how much Dash has grown since I’ve joined your merry band of followers. Have a wonderful and safe Christmas and may the New Year bring everything you need.
BB of Oz
Thanks Gail – I so love my loyal band of readers checking in on me!!! Wishing you a fabulous festive season too. xx
jeanie
You go to school to relax as Dad used to say!! Looks like fun – I do miss it a little bit sometimes.
jeanie´s last blog post ..Town Clothes
BB of Oz
Ah yes, so he did sister Jeanie!!! You would love it – much nicer this week than last though! THAT was steamy. x
Kelly
So interesting to see all the workings here on your grand scale – so different from our small herd of less than 30. Did I spy a white calf in one photo? I was thrilled when our mostly black herd (with a few white markings) of Brangus/Angus welcomed a white calf from a new arrival who had evidently been serviced by a Charolais before we bought her! She’s huge, but best buds with the cutest little black calf that was born the same week. I love seeing them together. 🙂
Kelly´s last blog post ..Decomposition
BB of Oz
Yes there is occasionally an odd-coloured calf – some paddocks do run alongside neighbours who have Brahmans and Charbrays so who knows! 🙂 Not sure about the ‘grandness’ of it, but it keeps us out of mischief!!! 😉
Anne@GritandGiggles
You certainly have been busy and I am sure you aren’t the only family with plans like this for the school holidays.
Love the glimpse into what you’ve been doing. I can honestly say I miss the action of it all.
Anne@GritandGiggles´s last blog post ..Views in the ‘Ville
BB of Oz
No there would undoubtedly be kids all throughout regional Australia who have kicked off uniforms, pulled on their jeans and felt hats, and be out amongst the dust with their families doing just the same thing Anne! 🙂
Andrew
As Gail says, and I don’t know how many years it has been, but it’s been interesting to see your children grow. While you haven’t been prolific this year with posts, I am always pleased when I see one. Animals and people look hale and hearty and I hope you are too.
BB of Oz
I know – life has overtaken me this year I am afraid… trying to get some of the many photos I STILL take up into the blogosphere again. Stay tuned! A few sneak onto the Facebook page too: https://www.facebook.com/BushBabeofOz/ 🙂
Helen Dobbin
I only found your blog earlier this year and have loved experiencing life on a property through your eyes. Now I have just discovered your Facebook page and will be able to stay more tuned to your busy, busy life.
Working outside in 48 / 50C is incomprehensible to me.
I do hope the rain finds you soon.
Helen Dobbin´s last blog post ..Day 3 of Walking in the Alpjurra in Spain
BB of Oz
Hey Helen… thankyou… yes I am busy, but I think perhaps that is the way of the world these days! Last week was definitely challenging in the heat department. We took it easier in the afternoons… 🙂
Carol Alex
Great story and pictures, loved it! Carol
BB of Oz
Thanks Carol… love it when people pop notes into my comments section. Very encouraging!!! xx
Debby Hornburg
I did enjoy the journey, and for some reason, this year, it is breathtakingly obvious to see that your children are no longer children at all! I love the little calf trotting along behind Violet. Reminds me of one of William’s favorite books: “Are You My Mother?”
BB of Oz
Yes!! LOL. Little tyke was so darned cute. The next blog post is about him!!!! Stay tuned. xx
Bill
thanks for the tour and have a fun day. The temp is 9F this AM in the valley of the great Ohio River.
-Bill
BB
That sounds chilly Bill!!!! Overcast day here and we are praying for some Christmas rain!
Jill Axford
Hi Amanda,
this gathering and drafting of the cattle was wonderful to see. Since I fell in love with an Aussie man 33 years ago and learned much from him about Australia, my dream was to come to the land of OZ and live on a cattle ranch to help with the cattle.Temporarily.
I am 71 now,how would I find anyone to put me up in exchange for work on horse back with the cattle? I can no longer throw a rope, I was a heeler at age 15. I gathered lots of corrientes (Mexican cattle)and my dog and I loaded them into the chutes for team ropers.I loaded the chutes and opened the gates, then learned to time the ropers.
Lots of fun on weekends off from school.
Happy Trails
Jill
Have you any ideas? I am going to keep on with your