Monday was a very fun, dusty, smelly, slightly bloody day. Time for branding the new calves! This is NOT Mr. Ferrero Rocher’s favorite part of the job. His younger brother J, takes care of the cattle most of the time but when it’s time to brand all hands are needed. Extra hands (friends and family) also came to help. They brought their horses and roping skills with them.
Aren’t the mountains in the background pretty?
Several cowboys (and one cowgirl!) rode their horses in amongst the cattle looking for a calf to rope.
Once a calf is chosen the ropes start a swingin’.
The lucky calf is brought in. The rest happens in rapid succession.
Throwing the calf down.
Branding. The weather was overcast with a light breeze – perfect for blowing the smoke from branding out of your eyes and nostrils.
Ear cutting, another measure to mark which cattle are yours.
Awww….poor calf!
Shots. Even calves have to be immunized.
What’s she holding in her right hand? Hmm… rocky mountain oysters anyone? No, Brownie didn’t do the cutting, that was Mr. Ferrero Rocher’s job. You can understand why he hates branding time. Brownie was in charge of taking the “goods” to a bucket for counting later to keep track of how many steers there are.
The younger kiddos watching the action.
Boy cousins talking about who knows what.
A very poorly set of stitched photos to show there were up to three cowboys holding roped calves with three “teams” working at once.
Did you know cows are actually pretty flexible? This one must have an itchy hind leg.
Branding is fun enough to skip school for. Just ask Cowboy L!
I think these guys had the funnest job.
UPDATED: Meg asked about our brand, The Flying W. I didn’t take a photo this time but found this one in my archives that shows the branding iron. This was from three years ago when branding much larger calves so we needed the chute.
That top photo is gorgeous! WOW! What a day!
Great pictures.
Oh the memories. I lived on a cotton farm until I was ten. I thought all this stuff was so exciting . . . then I grew up . . . .
When my kids were young, my son had to drink goats milk. The only way to get a consistent supply was to raise our own. We didn’t have to brand, but if we didn’t burn the horn buds, we would end up with mean aggressive animals. I am pretty horrified when I think of what it must have felt like. I was even PG when we did it and the smell was really bad when I had morning sickness. So glad that those days are past, though I do miss going out and milking early in the mornings and the birthing. So exciting!
Wow! That sounded really interesting! What you explained here is the idea that we get from cowboys here in Spain. It’s quite an interesing post. Thanks!
My first instinct is to exclaim, “SHUT. UP!”.
However, since we’ve never “talked” in person (yet) you of course wouldn’t know this is a bad habit of mine – when I am rendered completely speechless, lol!
Wow. Amazing pictures. All you need is a cookbook to put them in. 🙂
(You have seen Ree Drummond’s book, right?)
Nancy wants to know – “So what’s their brand?”
I LOVE branding time! My dh always goes to help at a friends farm and at his uncles farm.
I love the pictures as well.
And for the record, PW is good, but her site is hard to navigate, and I like you better.
Although I, like Meg above, have never “met” you, I think we would be good friends if you lived even remotly close! 🙂
We may get to go branding again this year as well. Unlike Mr. F.R., my husband LOVES branding time. It looks like FUN! Now I’m getting excited for May! 🙂
okay, now I wish to be a cowgirl!
I LOVE the pictures of the 2 cousins talking. That is adorable! Did I see President Hall in there on a horse? I couldn’t do that, either. I don’t blame your husband for not liking that part of ranching! Over for another year, huh?
Love the kids on the truck. Honestly, this is as foreign to me as Mars, but it’s very cool to “watch” through your pictures.
Amy,
Yes, that’s Pres. Hall dragging in a calf. His son and daughter are also on horses (shown together in the last photo).
Meg,
Duh, didn’t even think of getting a picture of the brand! It’s known as a flying w. I’ll try to find a photo and update the post at the end.
Thanks for the extra picture! 🙂
Howard would have loved to be there I can’t wait to show him these pictures.:) It looks like you had some great helpers too.:)
Wow – I love all the shots. Certainly not something I’ve ever seen!
I wonder how many people googled rocky mountain oysters after this post 🙂