Foot Rot, Feedlots, and Finding Problems Early
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This week was a pretty busy week on the ranch. A lot of our time was spent moving most of the cows into new pastures. Moving that many cattle is always more work than it sounds, especially making sure we get everyone where they need to go and that none get left behind. After getting the cows moved, we spent time going through them and checking for any that looked sick or weren’t acting quite right. We found a few that needed to be doctored, so I got more hands-on experience with treating sick cattle and figuring out what needed to be done. I’ve started to realize how important it is to really pay attention to the cattle instead of just looking at them and moving on. Sometimes the smallest changes in how an animal acts or moves can be a sign that something is wrong.
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We also spent some of the week working on building a feedlot. That was a different change from just working with the cattle because I got to see more of the work that goes into setting up the operation itself. It made me think more about how much planning and work goes into having a good place to keep and work cattle. It isn’t just about having a pasture for them; there are a lot of other things that have to be considered to make things work efficiently and keep the cattle taken care of.
One of the more interesting things we dealt with this week was a bull that had foot rot. We had to get him doctored and treated, which gave me another opportunity to learn more about dealing with problems that affect an animal’s ability to move normally. It also made me think about how important it is to catch things early. If a bull starts having trouble walking, it can affect a lot more than just that one animal, so being able to recognize the problem and take care of it is important.
Overall, I think the biggest thing I took away from this week is that there really isn’t a single routine when it comes to working with cattle. Every day can bring something different, whether it’s moving cows, checking sick animals, treating something like foot rot, or working on a feedlot. I’m learning that you have to be willing to adjust and figure things out as you go. I still have a lot to learn about recognizing different illnesses and knowing exactly what treatment is best for each situation, but getting to actually work with the animals makes it easier to understand.
Going forward, I want to keep paying attention to how the more experienced people identify problems and handle different situations. I also want to get more comfortable with the hands-on side of treating cattle and learn more about why certain treatments are used. This week showed me that a lot of what I’m learning comes from just being out there, doing the work, and seeing different situations firsthand. I’m hoping to keep building on that experience each week and become more confident in recognizing when something isn’t quite right and knowing what to do about it.
Submitted by: MacKenzie Jones
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team
