Headgates, Pastures, and Practical Stockmanship
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I spent part of this week riding with the head irrigator, Vicente, to learn more about how water is managed across the ranch. While irrigation is something I had seen before, I had never really understood the amount of planning and constant attention it requires. We rode through several pastures checking water flow, checking the head gates, and looking for anything that could cause problems. The Ranch uses water from both the Snake River and snowmelt from the Tetons. It gave me a better appreciation for how important irrigation is to maintaining productive pastures and supporting the cattle throughout the summer.
Another unique experience this week was learning how to use a dart gun to doctor a steer that we separated because it was pretty sickly looking. Instead of putting unnecessary stress on the steer, we were able to treat the steer from a distance. It was interesting to see how useful this tool can be when handling cattle in large pastures, and it reinforced the importance of having multiple ways to safely and effectively care for livestock.
There is a great deal of behind-the-scenes management involved, from maintaining water systems to making decisions that improve animal welfare while minimizing stress. Every task has a purpose, even if it is not as visible as branding or moving cattle.
Spending time with the head irrigator and learning to use specialized equipment like the dart gun gave me valuable skills that I had not been exposed to before. Each week continues to build on the last, and I am gaining a better appreciation for the variety of knowledge and experience required to work on a successful ranching operation.
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Submitted by: Sean Frost
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team
