If you are working with thousands of acres and more than ten acres to the cow in beef breeding herds, gathering the stock for routine husbandry is a big chore. But it was amazing to see how even the biggest of bulls respond to a good working horse and cowboy during last month's tour of the US with the Irish Tillage and Land Use Society (ITLUS).

When our group visited the ranch of Charlie Molvig near O'Neill in Nebraska, we happened on a bunch of over 20 people working about 350 three- to four-month-old calves. But the combined jobs of branding, vaccination, implantation and castration took less than 2.5 hours.

While its takes a lot of bodies, it seemed that the task is more like a grain threshing of the past. All of those on horseback were either neighbours or acquaintances. They were not farmhands and most were not even farmers. Some drove over five hours for the opportunity to practice their roping skills.

The handlers on the ground who held the cattle were mainly students from the university wrestling club who could hone their skills and muscles for a few dollars' reward. Those administering the different treatments were long passed the student phase, though.

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