I haven't quite figured out what "working cattle" is, unless it
is making steers out of them. Only thing involving cattle that
a little sharp knife would be good for that I could think of.
Since they run wild and take care of themselves, first is "round up"
that's an all year around thing, certain seasons are busier with it
tho.
Could be 6 head could be 180.
Sorting, singling them out, getting them on the ground ("tailing
them over") tieing up their legs using a "piggin string", branding
(using running irons since there are way too many brands to keep
track of and the typical branding iron looking thing don't work
worth anything), horn removal (mostly knife work sometimes a saw or
tree limb cutters is used to get things started
, "ear marking",
that's the job that needs a knife that'll cut hair in mid-hair
and the ear is always full of grit and dried mud. The best factory
knife, Case with the chrome vanadium steel won't take much of that
business.
The owner decides what to do with each young bull, if one is looking
like he's worth saving, there's a discussion about that (that I
don't understand, might as well be a foreign language
.
Letting some go right there and trucking some.
They have several "emasculators" that look like extra large nickel
plated pliers that you don't want any of your own "parts" in, no
matter what part.
But, those things are about as much trouble as they're worth.
Certain guys think they speed things up and/or do a better job
others won't touch 'em and use only a knife and "running iron".
As far as cows having trouble calving if they die they friggin die.
Several of the ranches that's been bought-out were ones that had
fancy cows and the ton of medicine, calf pulling chains and plastic
gloves that easily go to your shoulder and all that stuff. They
went out of business, all their stock sold off and some cows that
can take care of themselves (part Long Horn) are put on the place
and money made from the place again.
One ranch even came with buffalo, talkin about a pain in the ass.
Alvin in AZ