Bottle Calves, Branding, and Better Questions
#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk
This week I did an array of things. Post-surgery, the bottle calf that I’ve been taking care of and talking about in my last reflections is doing much better. In the beginning, its recovery was hit or miss, but it’s now running around with a healthy appetite. Seeing such a change, has been very rewarding, and a great reminder that a little bit of patience goes a long way.
I also learned how to do plant transects. Using randomized coordinates, my boss lays out a 100-foot measuring tape, and at every 1ft mark we identify the plant species or ground type. The categories included perennial grass, annual grass, forb, bare ground, litter, cactus, sage, yucca, and lichen. We recorded a tally for each category by pasture, and over the course of the week we completed a total of 18 pastures. It was interesting to see how vegetation varied from pasture to pasture and how this information can be used to evaluate rangeland health and grazing management. Especially the potential changes in bio mass and diversity, as my boss sprayed some pastures with Rejuvera last year, an herbicide to kill non-native Cheatgrass, that cows will choose to eat around once its cured.
I was also invited to my first rope-and-drag branding, where I got to help and learn from a neighbor and some of his friends. It was a unique and enjoyable experience, and I picked up many practical skills throughout the day. Everyone had their own techniques and tips for making the process run smoothly, and it was valuable to work alongside people with years of experience in the cattle industry. It also gave me the opportunity to meet more producers and see different approaches to handling cattle, as in contrast to table branding which my boss does.
One question I still have is why opinions on branding methods are so divided. Similar to a question I had before, I would like to know why some people are so strongly against table branding while others are equally opposed to rope-and-drag branding. I think it’s interesting how the agriculture community can be split so firmly on certain practices, with each side believing their method is the only correct approach. It makes me curious about what other management practices or traditions have similarly strong differences in opinion and what factors shape those preferences.
One thing I would like to challenge is the way some people treat newcomers in agriculture. During my time in the GrowinG Program, I have met many people who have been welcoming and willing to teach those who are new to the industry. However, I have also met people who are not as accepting. Even though many agree that agriculture needs more people, some are still hesitant to welcome newcomers. I challenge those people to be more open-minded and willing to share their knowledge, because people who want to learn and care about agriculture can help keep the industry strong in the future.
Submitted by: Celise Pacheco
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team
