On a Spring Sunday, we gathered with friends and family to celebrate the newest additions to our herd.
The cowboys branded the calves which means using a hot iron to burn the hair so a symbol called a "brand" appears on the calves forever. This makes sure our neighbors know who the calf belongs to if it were to escape from our pasture.
We also gave the babies shots and medicine in their nose to keep them healthy so they are ready to go to pasture for the first time.
The burning of the hair is a distinct smell.
It also gets very smoky. "Now you see them...
now you don't."
Here are a few pictures of the shots we give them,
the bottles of medicine,
and the "nut bucket".
The calves that are unlucky enough to be born boys also get castrated on this day. Before we sell the bull calves, we like them to be steers instead. The younger the calves are the easier it is for them and for handling the calves, especially if the calf is large.
This branding was also very special because it was our daughter's very FIRST branding!
Branding is a tradition in a lot of cowboy families...
It's a time for learning new tricks,
for exploring new textures and tastes...unfortunately...one small piece did manage to get swallowed,
for riding bucking bulls...well, at least bucking calves,
and this Cowgirl loved every minute of it!
~Photos by Country Dove Photography taken at the Bromiley Ranch
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