Showring skills that can be used in cattle farming

Ranch sorting and team penning are two Western show disciplines that can also be used to rapidly sort rangeland cattle, writes Dr Mac.

-  Dr Mac.

Sorting a cattle herd essentially involves moving selected animals to another location. This is done for a variety of reasons. Weaners may be removed from their dams and placed elsewhere on the farm for fattening. Heifers may be taken out of the main herd for mating purposes. Infertile cows may be removed for culling, or any animal may be removed to be marketed.

A CONTRASTING APPROACH

In South Africa, cattle are usually sorted on foot, with a lot of yelling and whistling and cracking of whips. In the US, it is normally done in much less time with riders on trained horses.

A horse used to sort cattle must be taught to be confident around these animals and not intimidated when a stud bull or an old cow with long horns mock-charges it. It must be fit, athletic and able to stop or roll back (turn on its hindquarters) with speed and balance.