Today we finished processing for the week.  I worked right behind chute.  It was tough getting the calves to want to step up into that pressure.  They have been installing Silencer chutes and the louvers (rubber flaps to hide movement)seem to really help.  Isaak is set to get one next.  They have them made with galvanized metal or they won’t last. After we finished we had, you guessed it, Bento box from Earls.  I really enjoy them, and today we had some great conversation to go with.  We laughed and told story’s about horse clinicians, and I told some about Craig Cameron and the fun we have had.  We discussed dogs, pigs, cattle behavior as well as human behavior, and we spent a lot of time talking about M and R and it’s value on the ranch. It was a great time and I think we all agree that we believe in good Stockmanship and getting better, so it wasn’t all laughs and giggles

We decided the calves were ready to go to pasture tomorrow, so Wife Tammy and I took them out of pen to a training pen and worked on getting them to slow down and stop. I’d like to have them handling a little better, but we will make it work.

I am not as satisfied to day because of the pressure I had to use to get the calves in the chute.  I don’t like it.

I think it would be best to work calves through chute with it open while settling calves.  They would learn to go through without the pressure and then when it was time to process they would flow to the pressure better.  I don’t know if it’s feasible, but it would be the right thing to do.

There are a couple videos on here but you might have to go to website to see.

Processed and settled steers we weaned yesterday.  Then worked with heifers by moving them from pen to pen and put them through lead up to chute to help prepare for processing tomorrow.

We had a great visit with the guys while eating our Bento Box lunch.  These calves are very different in temperament than they we last year.  These calves had lots of movement, but it wasn’t panic movement like last year.  They wouldn’t say it, but it is because of them and the way they are changing the way they pressure these cattle.

A good example is the counting video.  Last year the calves were bouncing off the fences and really scared when they went by the counter.  This is a completely different movement.

It is a team effort that is doing it.  The bosses, Jason and Keoki for making it a priority, and the guys for trying to do it.  They all have different personalities and skill levels, but everyone is trying and it is making a big change.

I worked horseback in the back with Tyler Cox.  He is one of those young people that gives me a lot of confidence in the future of Stockmanship.  He has no idea how good  his timing and pressure are, (when he’s not showing off) and I really enjoyed working with him.  I am real sure he will just keep getting better and refine his skills.     Being a stockman is in his genetics, like most everybody that works for Parker.

I was pretty physically tired when we got our horses taken care of, and took a little time to relax and think.  I thought abought some of the things I have done this week handling livestock.  I really feel like I understand how to pressure cattle and horses in such a higher skill level than I could a few years ago.  The reason is I learn things, then get out and do them.  I am not trying to be someone else, but simply to see things and get better.  You can’t perfect these skills from reading  or watching videos.  You have to get in the middle of it and do it.  The other things can help you speed up the learning, but you have to do it and stay committed to it until you see the improvement and keep building it.  The crew here gets plenty of opportunity to try to figure it out, and they are.

This is so rewarding for us, because we are part of the teamwork to make the change, and we are getting to really test our skills at settling and preparing cattle for grazing.

Well I am having a little challenge with getting things the way I want on this web-site.  Didn’t know where yesterday’s post went, and it just showed up.

Munstah didn’t buck me off. Cattle gathered, sorted, and loaded real nice and the crew worked as a real team. We did all that and had the 600 plus calves loaded and hauled to the weaning pens by 1:00 pm.

Klem Kaniho told me he has worked on the Ranch 28 years come this summer.  He is a real good hand that works very hard and takes a lot of pride in what he does.  I really admire him and the pride and skills he has.  He has weaned and branded a whole bunch of calves in all those years, and works with some very good stockman.  I didn’t really like being around him at first, but now I do and learn by watching him.   He even smiled a couple of times today.  I wonder what right I have in telling him how to do something?

All the guys are real good to Tammy and Me.  We have fun and try to do our work better.  I realize how difficult it is for them sometimes with my ideas, but they sure are doing some real good work.

When we finished loading we had a “Bento Box” lunch from Earls, thanked Manny who’s herd it was for the good work and effort, and the we went to settle the calves we just weaned.  They had lots of movement and it was difficult to get them checked up, but it was nice work in the rain and a good place to think about animal behavior.

Ill let you know how it went tomorrow.  We start processing first thing in the morning.

I enjoyed the day riding Munstah and working working with Wife Tammy.

We are very thankful for the opportunity to work on the Great Parker Ranch.