In Canada, big cattle brandings (for the city people - this is where the calves are vaccinated, castrated (males), de-horned, ear-tagged and fire branded with the owners sign using hot irons) are a social gathering with up to 80 people from surrounding ranches helping out to get several hundred cattle branded in a day. In this particular case, we had two heards to brand. The first heard being just under 500 head of cattle and the second being only 130 head.
In Canada, branding is still done the old fashioned way: on horseback with riders roping the calves and pulling them back over to 6 teams. Each team consists of two wrestlers, 4 people responsible for vaccinations, one for castration, one for de-horning, one for ear tagging and three for hot-branding. There is much technique involved to ensure the job is done safely and quickly. It may seem cruel to the animal but is necessary when doing such large heards, however each calf spends no more than 1 minute maximum on the ground. They are also given pain relief injections (not sure of the exact name).
James was given the opportunity of helping to rassle (wrestle) the calves which was great fun and one hell of an experience.
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| James Helping a 6 year old boy learn to rassle |
Following the branding, the owner of the Ranch usually hosts a BBQ supper for everyone that helped. There is mountains of food and some of the best steak you have ever tasted. And lots of alcohol. But the most unusual food you will find there.....
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| What is this? |
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| Guess yet? |
They are the left overs from castration - thats right calf nuts or as they call them "Prairie Oysters". That are herbed and crumbed and cooked in butter on the bbq and eaten! I am not kidding. Both James and I were made to try one. I was nearly sick - they were disgusting but James had several. Everyone else loved them so it wasn't a joke they pull on Australians. After that, the party continued on in a relatively normal fashion and we had a lot of fun. James & Cody settled in and drunk a fair bit of Scotch and beer, Jess socialised and got followed around by the kids.
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| Jess holding Emma |
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| yummy steak |
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| Kristine, Cody & James |
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| Cody & James |
Everyone was very grateful that the next morning was a late start (midday). Branding is very very very hard work.....
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