Working Cattle

Twice a year we round-up all our cattle and do what is called "work" them in the cattle business. Normally this is done in early summer and the fall. They get various vaccinations that are necessary to keep them healthy. We palpate heifers and cows to determine if they are pregnant and if so for how long. Calves are weaned and bulls castrated into steers. Calves not polled are dehorned. Some times it goes without problems and other times there are nothing but problems.

We use our horses to round-up the cattle. This reduces the stress on the herd.



After the cattle are in the corral, we sort them in to working groups separating out the bull calves, heifer calves, cows and bulls.



After we sort them, we run them individually through the squeeze chute for shots and all the work that needs to be done on each.



To palpate a female (determine if she is pregnant or not) you have to stick your arm far up her intestinal track through her anus. Once in as far as you can reach you use your fingers to feel through the thin skin wall the uterus to make a determination. This link explains it in detail.



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Working cattle is a lot of work, but it is a necessary task if you have a cattle herd. Me and Javier look forward to it.