In December most of the cows are walked out 18 miles to 11,000 acres for their winter pastures. From the 11,000 acres they are then pushed to corn and barley stalks. This year 300 of the herd was kept nearer to the ranch until mid-January. Then those 300 met up with the rest of the herd on the barley and corn stalks. About 1200 cows graze on the barley and corn stalks until mid-February. They are then pushed down the road about two miles to our Kinder pastures. At the beginning of March, all the cows will be walked back 15 miles to the main ranch for calving.
Many of these cows have made this same trek and it’s no real problem getting them down the road.
On this particular move day, the cows were strung out for about three to four miles.
These cows are walking down the middle of the road. It’s a thing here. You plan for it. Ranches put out signs that will say “Cows on the Road” or “Livestock on the road, next ten miles.” It’s just something that is done and something you learn to work around, go around. You also accept you will always have cow poop on your vehicle.
Almost there.
Finally. This trek takes the cows almost all day. The will make their way back to the main ranch during the first full week of March to start calving. They will be heavy with calves and the movement will be even slower. Our winter pastures will be done and lots of feeding will happen before the grass starts growing.
