It's Branding Time!

 May is the traditional month for branding, but we got started earlier this year to avoid the heat that's likely to come. (And by "we" I mean my ranching family, I had nothing to do with it.)

Brandings are fun, because the cowboys and cowgirls like to do it the traditional way, roping the calves. This takes more time and people, but uses traditional cowboy skills. For this branding, cowboys were roping one calf at a time, and bringing them back to a harness type device that kept the calf in place.


The horses are well trained to move just when told and also to stay still while the calf is being processed.


A happy new recruit doing the beginner's job--loading ear tags.

Once the calf is in position, it receives its vaccinations, an ear tag that has pesticide on it to keep the fleas away, ears cut (instead of actual branding with a hot iron), a rubber band around delicate parts if it's a male to keep it from becoming a bull, and a mark on the forehead to indicate that it's done.

Brandings are fun to watch, as there is so much going on all at once, and so much skill on display. It's also fun to get a glimpse back into what life used to be like before all these modern day accoutrements.

Brandings are also an opportunity for family and friends to get together.

Young people learn skills from the more experienced.

And there are beautiful horses!

Have you ever tried roping? Desert Boy got a lasso for a birthday and we've practiced around the yard. We all need a lot more practice! Thinking of lassoing on a moving horse makes me admire the talent these folks have even more.

This calf made me laugh. Her expression makes it look like she's just out for a little ride.

Fortunately the weather was fantastic for this branding.

We couldn't stay too long due to other obligations. But in a later post we'll return to another branding, where the kids got to help out!

Hanging out with Clementine

 

Ready for a tale of woe? (Some of it may actually be true.)

Once upon a time a little calf was born on a dark and stormy night. (A dark and stormy night makes for much better reading than a calm and boring night, even though the latter is more likely to be the case.) 

Although she did her best, the poor mama cow just couldn't make it, and her little orphan calf was on her own. She was now known as a bummer calf. (That part is true, calves that don't have a mama taking care of them are bummer calves.)

Fortunately for her, she was taken in by two friendly people, who fed her daily bottles of milk replacement and hay to help make her into a big, strong cow. They named her Clementine.

Clementine was doing well until one dark night, a big and ferocious mountain lion jumped into her pen and tried to eat her. The calf fought back, and managed to live, but the lion's big teeth had left deep gashes in her neck and shoulders. She couldn't get over her memories of that mountain lion, and with no mama to console her, she just didn't want to go on.

She was moved to a new home, where she wouldn't see reminders of the mountain lion attack. She also got to hang out with two great lambs, who helped protect her. Slowly, with the aid of antibiotics and pain killers and lots of love, Clementine improved.

And that's where we get to be part of the story. Clementine's new family was out of town for the weekend, so we were asked to help take care of her. The kids were so excited!

 They quickly learned how to bottle feed her.

 Clementine drinks very fast!

She also likes to slobber all over the front of my clothes. Above, Desert Girl is pointing at some pus from a would above Clementine's ear. Poor thing!

It was fun taking care of Clementine, and we hope she keeps improving.

The kids would love to help with Clementine again. Of course, the nearby merry-go-round is also a very good incentive!