Vet Work

Our cows graze aimlessly through the summer on several small bits of pasture, none of which lasts very long. Consequently, we must periodically gather the entire bovine population and move them to fresh grass. Sometimes the pastures are close enough that we herd them with horses and four-wheelers and shouting children; other times we pack them into a trailer and haul them. Trailer days may also include a run through the vet's barn, as did Tuesday's adventure. At the vet's, each animal is temporarily immobilized in a squeeze chute, where we deworm, immunize, and poke an insect-repellent flytag in each ear. Flies carry pinkeye, so flytags minimize our chances of dealing with that disease later in the summer.

Baby calves get flytags, too. Audrey and Kendall, the vet tech, are coming at this one with their sixguns loaded.

Sometimes a calf won't stand just right, so Jake serves as a human squeeze chute.

After the baby calves all have their tags, Erica and Merrill run the big mamas, a few at a time, down the alleyways and into the vet barn. The barn is on the small side, and the cows are on the big side, so the girls move only four or five cows at a time. Cows are herding animals--safety in numbers and all that. Peeling off just a few can be a job.

They would sure rather be lolling in the sunshine than going in for a chat with the doc, so Merrill gives them a little encouragement. Get the move on, old girl!