HatCreekCattleco
Well-known member
ExactlyAs for flighty cattle... I like them docile enough to be called to a bucket, but flighty enough that they avoid getting within ten feet.
ExactlyAs for flighty cattle... I like them docile enough to be called to a bucket, but flighty enough that they avoid getting within ten feet.
You are right on that. When I go work cattle for my dad some of the cattle will try to fight the flag. You will see me twirling the flag to wrap it up. I had a heifer a while back squaring up and I popped that flag in her face to try and call her bluff. She came with it with out hesitation. I had to just get a good ways away in on foot and make her run in circles with a couple other big calves in the pen until they went in the chute. Kind of a last resort deal.I haven't ever liked a flag but I have tied a couple grocery bags to the popper on my stock whip. ( splitting hairs I know ) It worked good for moving calves for lot or lot.
I usually prefer just a plain white 1/2" fiberglass stick with a golf club grip. Not to heavy but enough to get their attention.
When we're sorting bulls or crazy stuff I use a 5/8" by 60" fiberglass stick. But that gets pretty heavy after swinging it all day.
I worked some yearlings yesterday for a guy and didn't carry anything. They were so wound up that anything they saw move caused them to stop and square up.
It's been a long time since I've worked cattle that were so cranked that you couldn't even get in the pen with them.
I've got a couple for when the college students come out. But I drilled a small hole in them and poured the rattle out. They don't work to bad now.Got a couple rattle-panel-sorting-stick-thingies
I like cattle that will move. But 90% of the sorting I do is with a cut gate in an alley. I hate cattle that run by sideways heads down, tail up, blowing snot as they pass.I've found I like these type better myself than the type you have to prod and whack to get to move. Once you have you facilities right, all you have to do is show those type a hole, they'll move to it. You just have to have good enough gates and pens to stop them when you shut that hole because they're usually coming hard. I'll add I'm not talking about winding them up, I mean just naturally flighty cattle.
I've found that to be the case too...Typically naturally flighty cattle tend to be harder doin when they hit the feed lot. Cattle that run to the back of the pen when you walk or drive past tend to not gain as well as the ones that won't leave the feed bunk until everything is cleaned up.
I pen everything with a bag of cubes.I seen lots of bent gates and corral panels before i built my lots. I bought 7 bar super heavy duty galvanized gates. Took 3 people and a loader to hang them but even the cows and bulls never try to jump.
If you have something higher than your head they rarely will try to jump.
Makes it easier on you and them doesn't it.I pen everything with a bag of cubes.
Cows aren't the problem it's 5 and 6 wt calves that loose their minds and see monsters.Yep built three pens in my life.
The last one over twenty years ago out of drill stem and with 13 gates. I'm always working a cow behind a gate.
Good point, I never thought about that.Typically naturally flighty cattle tend to be harder doin when they hit the feed lot. Cattle that run to the back of the pen when you walk or drive past tend to not gain as well as the ones that won't leave the feed bunk until everything is cleaned upup.
I pen everything with a bag of cubes.
Cows aren't the problem it's 5 and 6 wt calves that loose their minds and see monsters.Yep built three pens in my life.
The last one over twenty years ago out of drill stem and with 13 gates. I'm always working a cow behind a gate
I totally agree on this post. Very few people can actually make a trailer figure out. If most people had to pay $200 each time it would still probably be cheaper than owning one.The best advice I could've given the op on this thread, I would've said sell the trailer, spend the money in freestanding drill stem panels and hire someone to haul the calves.
If I tried that, I'd be making my own sandwiches for a week or three."Mount up bitch" is what I tell Roy. Then I say "you coming too honey?"
Roy always beats her to the truck.
That's probably more true today than what my folks said, "All hat and no cattle." Not nearly as many people wearing Stetsons and a lot more baseball caps.We joke about that all the time saying people are all trailer and no cattle.
Talk to the local sale barn. They usually know several people that regularly attend sales from every direction, so can put you in touch with someone close to you.Where does one hire someone to haul there small loads of calve? Ha
Neighbors? Church? Feed store? Hell, even make a deal with the trailer dealer to rent a used trailer.Local sale barn? What's that?
Is 5-7 hours local? Hahaha