Branding Season in Montana
Fall has arrived in Montana and as the weather changes we always discuss what season we like better. Branding season in the spring or shipping season in the fall? Of course there is no right answer, I personally can’t choose between the two. I love the atmosphere of both! As we gear up to pre-condition calves and ship cattle the next few months, here is a little recap of some of my favorite photos from branding season 2020.
Gearing up for the day. Shotgun chaps, wild rag, and a couple of good ranch horses.
Gathering the herd at Medicine Rocks Angus Ranch, Ekalaka, MT.
Time to sort the mama cows from the calves in the Bitterroot Valley. Typically during spring brandings in Montana only the calves will get a brand. Unless just bought or missed, the older cows will already have brands.
Waiting on the irons to get hot. Some brands require multiple irons. This branding pot holds a few sets of the brand so multiple people can brand calves when they “come to the fire”.
Each ranch, family, or individual has a brand. It could have been passed down from Grandma and Grandpa, or bought through the Department of Livestock. Here Butch puts a brand on a calf at the Bitter Root Stock Farm branding in Hamilton, MT.
Ropers will rope the calves by the hind legs and bring them out of the branding pen. Multiple ropers stay in the branding pen and drag calves to get the job done faster.
Wrestlers hold the calves down while they get a brand. This doesn’t hurt the calf and is a quick process!
Most cow-calf operations also give vaccines at this time. This is necessary to keep calves healthy.
It takes a village.
Two feet! Ropers will heel and drag calves to the branding fire. The best way is to catch two!
A just branded calf finds its mother. The cow has been owned by multiple owners, so she bears two different brands.
Brandings are a lot of work. Good horses make the job easier!
A couple of mid-morning cocktails! Most outfits (ranches) wait till the end of branding calves to start drinking. Others bring the beer out in the morning…cowboy sh*t!
Branding season is an important time of the year to connect with friends, family, and neighbors. Up until branding day, most ranchers are calving…think cold, long days and nights looking after their cattle. Most ranchers don’t get out at all or get much sleep during calving season. That’s why getting together is so important when the weather starts to warm up and spring work comes.
The end of the day…time for a ranch cooked meal and some cold ones!