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Branding Heifers 11 July 2009 Page three of three |
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Branding is a slow, methodical process to move bookkeeping numbers onto flesh. |
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The furnace blasting away in the background, coupled with the heat of the day and the hot irons, makes for a warm and uncomfortable morning in the pens. |
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ABOVE LEFT: Mike stands by while Sam runs the head catch and Ralph keeps track of the paperwork. ABOVE RIGHT: A heifer in the chute look a bit worried as she waits for her turn. LEFT: A heifer tries unsuccessfully to jump out of the chute to escape the inevitable. |
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Will moves the heifers along slowly through the chute as they are branded one by one. |
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Besides being branded, the last heifer needs to have her horns tipped, which ooze a little blood from the now truncated horns. |
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ABOVE: The heifers are returned to pasture. LEFT: Sean and Goldie are happy to break for lunch. |