Shipping Cows and Training Sue

This last week we shipped out our first batch of cows. These were heifers that had been here
grazing since winter, gaining weight and getting ready to head for a feed lot. There was quite the collection of people here for the shipping process; the owner of the cows, the broker, the financier, and a ranch manager. A health inspector had been by the day before to check the cows and make sure they were a healthy group. We shipped about 600 cows in 2 days, and will ship another big batch next week.

They move all the cows into the corrals prior to shipping so they can be weighed, counted, and checked for any medical issues. Because of the super hot, dry weather though, the dirt in the corrals is like powder and the dust is constant. In preparation, the night before shipping Brian

and I put thousands and thousands of gallons of water on the ground. We filled the water tank in the photo several times at a well owned by the mines, about a mile from the ranch. Brian ran the hose at the corrals and I drove the truck around. I think we spent about 9 hours on the project, but it sure made a difference in the air quality the next day.

Another batch of cows spent a few days this week back in the house field. With cows so close,

we decided to take advantage of an opportunity to do some training with Sue. She has no problem knowing how to chase cows. The issue is getting her to not chase them, or to wait for a command before she goes after them. It is fun watching her though, kind of like a kid in a candy shop. She sees cows and her eyes just light up.

This evening, Sue and I rode the quad out to one of the water pumps to start the generator and replenish the water supply there (this is the water pump, well, and trough project Brian helped rebuild and finish in earlier posts). It is about a 15 minute quad ride out to the well, and

Sue rode out there in the "trunk" area in the back of the quad. She chased a few cows while she was waiting for me to start the generator. When I told her to load up to go, instead of going to the back of the quad she got right on the seat and just stared at me. I wish I had a picture of our ride home. I decided not to push her, so Sue rode right in front of me on the seat, resting her head on my arm. As we got closer and closer to the ranch she moved further towards the front of the quad until finally she was right out on the hood. I had to slow way down so she wouldn't fall off but she sure seemed happy to be in the front seat. I just hope knuckle didn't notice, she

might be a little jealous!