Mark Brownlee – Owner, host and grazier.

Terry Gompert, University of Nebraska, extension grazing specialist, Steve Hefner, Water Quality NRCS, Mark Brownlee, speaking, Doug Peterson, NRCS Missouri State Grassland Specialist, Curtis Gooch, NRCS Grassland Conservationist listen to the experiences of Mark.

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When we went out to check on the cows after our return we were happy to see that we had two new calves. That’s the great thing about these old cows, they’ve had enough calves you don’t need to worry much about them having problems! In the process of moving them to a new break of grass, we let them water up. This last cow was drinking when we got to looking and saw her calf very actively kicking around! We thought maybe we’d finally found a video which might go “viral” on YouTube!

On our drive through Wyoming today we spotted two cowboys driving this herd of bulls along the highway against the backdrop of these mountains. What a great world we live in!

We took a walk out to check on the calves, and I took some photos of the near white-out conditions. Had to combine this with a holiday greeting!

We have been wanting to sell calves for several weeks, but the snow has really made that difficult. We like to sell at a Saturday auction, and it’s been the weather habit to storm heavy on Friday, making a Saturday load-out more difficult. Also, the place in our corral where we usually load-out is difficult to get in and out of if the ground isn’t solid. We got up early yesterday and tried to spot the trailer while the ground was still frozen, but just couldn’t get it and also realized, even if we could spot it right and load it, we probably couldn’t get it out even with the help of the tractor.

So, Richard said, “why don’t we load them in the lane?” And I said, “sure, that’s a great idea!” So we did.

I know, we aren’t posting video of the actual load, so you will just have to take our word for it. We spotted the trailer a ways down our lane, put a little panel on each side, opened the back swinging gate, and loaded them! These photos are taken after we shut the back gate on the 10 calves.

One key point when setting up a load like this is keeping the panels totally flat. Resist the temptation to make a “funnel” which would seem to be perfect to “force” the animals into the back of the trailer. It won’t work nearly as well as a flat back!

Ok, I just had to include one “artsy” photo of Richard heading out with the calves for their scenic tour of Polk County in the snow!

Speaking of snow, it was lovely when we started the loading, not too cold (about 28 degrees) and no wind or snow. However, during the sorting process, I noticed these BIG white things floating around. Then they got thicker and thicker, and it was almost a white-out by the end of the loading!

Richard and I went to Weston and Beth Walker’s farm near here this morning to assist as Kit Pharo of Pharo Cattle Company evaluated these 1.5 year old bulls.

Here Richard’s sorting out some of Weston and Beth’s heifers (sisters to the bulls) to weigh and scan them before working the bulls.

Then Richard and I helped put the bulls, one by one, up the chute for their weighing and scanning. Kit and his crew are in the background here where they evaluate each bull and give a score of from 1 to 5 on several qualities.

Today we toured the Hearst Castle near San Simeon, California. W.R. Hearst had, at one time, a zoo on the property. Today only a few "zoo" animals remain including these zebra who run right with the cattle. We had such a hard time resisting the urge to walk out and take them all for a drive!

First Richard sorted the black calves from the red. Then, since he didn’t need the blacks in the corral any longer, he let them out the “man gate.”

Next he sorted the calves needing castration off and left them in the corral. Then he let these calves we didn’t need to work out the “man gate” too. Isn’t it nice to be able to do whatever you need with your cattle?

We bought nine head of mostly unweaned stockers at the sale Saturday afternoon. We hauled them home and worked with them Saturday afternoon and evening and combined them with 5 of our previous calves in the barn lot. Sunday morning early Richard worked them some more and turned them out in our training pen (to train them to electric fence). He drove them Sunday evening and Monday morning. Then, Monday afternoon I filmed him driving them into the barn lot, into the corral, and through the corral. We don’t believe you, necessarily, need to put cattle through the corral so they get used to it before working. This was just a chance to film these newly weaned calves (notice how quiet it is?) worked through the corral.

One advantage of working the cattle from the front is, the cattle who can’t take as much pressure will go out in the first bunch or two, so they aren’t getting more and more stirred up as time goes on. Watch the white calf and his buddy hurry into the first group. Ok, Richard might have pressured them just a little too much, but it worked out just fine! And, notice how they leave the chute and immediately settle down.

The last group in the big corral work just as nice as the first group. Maybe nicer because they are the calmest cattle who can take the most pressure. And, see how nice and calm the entire group is after their little trip through the corral?