The smell of burnt hair, mama cows bawling, cowboy sideline roping commentary and top block cooked on an oak pit – TIS THE SEASON! Summer brings shipping, Fall brings calving, Winter brings breeding and Spring brings BRANDING! I hear myself tell people all the time, “Well it is about to slow down,” or, ” Things are wrapping up soon,” but every time I know it is a downright exaggeration. Each season brings another part of the business but by far branding season is one that everyone loves around here!
I don’t know if it is the comradery of all the people going from ranch to ranch helping each other, the satisfaction of working the calves or the BBQ and cold beer but everyone smiles at a branding invite. It is hard work but it is the chance to look at the calves, talk to our friends and get a glimpse of hope for this year’s crop. It is also arguable that from an animal management standpoint it is the most important day of the year.
On the day of the branding calves are vaccinated, branded, ear marked/tagged, and bulls are castrated. There are deviations on each ranch as to what is done but those are the basics. The other deviation is the method by which each calf is caught and handled. Primarily on the Central Coast of California you see the rope and stretch method – calves are roped around the neck and two hind feet, put on the ground and stretched by front feet and back feet, thus securing them while everything is done, and within a few minutes they’re let back up and back with mama. Some folks use calf tables that are like a small squeeze chute that rotates calves on to their sides while others only rope back legs and drag them to the fire. Whatever the method the goal is the same, get in and get out as quickly as possible therefore keeping high stress levels as short as possible.
Our area is blessed with some incredible ropers and that makes the job of the day much easier. They handle the calves with care (almost like they are their own, which makes sense because we all might be in their corral the next week) and while waiting for the ground crew team to finish they make sure everything gets done before they let the calves up. It is almost an artform watching 6-7 people horseback navigating the corral, catching calves and mercilessly ribbing each other about their skills. The ground crew with their weaving in and out of each other’s way and going under and over ropes resembles a dance when watched from outside. One misstep from either side could end in injury for both person or animal so everyone is on high alert. Thankfully most days you just go home sore from running, bending, roping and riding!
Branding seems brutal to some – throw a calf down, burn their hide with an iron, castrate, poke them with needles, it seems very violent. In truth I would think the same thing, until after the branding when the smoke clears and I drive the old ranch jeep around. Everyone is quiet, laying down or up eating, all is right with the world again. Within a couple days the newly castrated steers have less swelling and you would think that nothing ever happened. Meanwhile your hard day of work ensures protection from disease, lower aggression from bull calves and security that your cattle are legally marked before sale time. Instead of stressing them multiple times doing one thing at a time you get in get out and get done! Not to mention the quicker you’re done in the corral the sooner you get to sit down, visit and have a beer (or two) to plan the next branding.
Let me know if you have any questions about the process or anything at all! If you have any good branding stories please share them! I will be posting pictures and updates after our branding this weekend!
Pacific Coast Cattle 