Horror! The Head Gate...

The calves weren't real excited

Normally we tag and tattoo when they are much younger but due to the few health setbacks Hubby was unable to complete that until the past week.  Of course he chose a time when I was not around to help.  He didn't know my sister watches after him.  She kept her distance but took pictures so she could report to me and to give Hubby a hand if something went wrong.  Luckily she just had to take pictures.

No one wants their baby to get a tattoo but it is far more humane than the old hot brands that used to be used.  The purpose is two-fold, you can identify your stock and the tags contain a tick repellent.  If the tag is lost, the tattoo remains.

All done except one.  The calves won't come back to the corral even for food.  It is the head gate that scares them not the result of what was done.  Hubby never knew there was a spy in the tree line.

I Ain't No Cow Girl!

Bull or Cow???

The twins, not yet aware of the horrors that await them.

I have been a farmer's daughter and now I am a farmer's wife. When I was a child, calves were born, sold or added to the herd...no shots, no tags, no tatoos, no registration. When my hubby decided to add cattle to his farm adventure, I informed him they were his babies not mine. He would ask a cow question and I would answer, don't know, not my babies.

I am, however, lucky to be the paperworker. I get to figure what number goes on tags, what number on tatoos, what number on paper after I am told what calf belongs to who. I have all the tags bagged with their numbers sacked up neatly for the the cowboys to take with them.

Did I get to stay in? NO!!!

First, let me say, we do have a head gate and have had one for a year. It is still laying in the grass. If these were my babies, I would have had a catcher pen with a chute so you could run the calves through one at a time, do what you do and let them go. But these are not my babies!!! So we round all the cattle into a acre area with a triangle pen for working, no chute, no head gate, these are babies, no problem. HA!!!!

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Piece of cake,We pick out the four calves and start the pursuit. Now none of us are ropers, none of us know really what we are doing. The poor calves were smart to run and run and run. Two lariats, two non ropers and two herders, four people, this should be done quickly, smoothly.

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I am in my muck boots and no bra and I am running, this is not a safe way to run! Cut this way, cut that way, bring 'em this way...I was ready to tattoo the hubby. I came out here to hand the correct numbers and tags to the Cowboys and take pictures, not gallop after cows with my chest swinging!

One calf is roped, after thirty-seven, at least, attempts.

Throw him down, Andrew!

Could have lost some teeth here!

Now hold her down!

They finally gave up. Four calves done and we are done in!

Let me repeat...I AIN'T NO COW GIRL!