Cattle Management

Why we are not "organic" producers:

Cattle suffer from intestinal parasites as well as external ones such as ticks. We consider that, as with children, if you can prevent disease and distress in your stock, it would be totally irresponsible and cruel not to do so. Hence we squirt some cattle drench on their backs every 3 to 4 months. If this means that we are not "organic" producers, so be it.

Handling cattle:

The cattle need to be moved from paddock to paddock and, when required, into the cattle yards. We do not have a dog trained to moved cattle. (The steers just look curiously at our Cavaliers if they try to pretend to be dogs.)   

We use the "Pied Piper" method of cattle handling. They become used to us being around them and offering them a new paddock with fresh pasture. It takes some patience, especially since every cattle mob contains at least one "rat bag" but, once the rest of them are moving, even these ones will follow along with the rest.  

Lining up, following me to the gate:


Calling them through the gate into the new paddock: