Branding 2017 Review

[@OurWyomingLife]

Hey gang, (btw, we should come up with a name for subscribers like ranchateers, or ranch hands or something, anyway) I know I'm hitting you with alot of branding videos but I wanted to wrap it up with a review, give you the highlights and explain a few things I might have missed. I hope you like it. Please comment if you'd like, we love hearing from all of you! -Mike

[@Justin-fi7qz]

Ranchateers it is.

[@Gabbos]

Rancheros or Lil' Doggies. Cowpokes? City slickers.

[@OurWyomingLife]

I might just have to do a poll :)

[@doneddy5812]

Our Wyoming Life I prefer knife cut. Then fry em up fer good eatin.

[@OurWyomingLife]

That they are. Thanks! -Mike

[@keithknapp2797]

I am a teacher in Michigan, and we have our first Snow Day. This gives me the chance to catch up on so many videos you have made. I am new to the OWL channel but I absolutely love it. My dad used to own a farm in Western Nebraska while I was in college, and I ran a farm in Oklahoma for a few years. This sure takes me back, and makes me want to return to farming again some day. Keep it up.

[@helenhein5374]

Keith Knapp, I live in Western Nebraska. My dad and grandpa own a ranch in Western Nebraska.

[@eddeetz493]

In Wisconsin we had cattle, horses and a Welch pony. We helped drive a ranchers cattle to different pastures. Dads weren't sure to bring us pony kids. We saved the day being able to go into the brush after the stubborn cattle and calves. We always helped on branding days. Turned a job into fun and a bbq to die for. Thanks for the uploads and memories.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Very nice. Sounds like a great time. Thanks Ed

[@Gabbos]

I want you to talk about how all those people show up and almost work for free. That fact that so many people showed up to do hard work for a burger is pretty impressive to me.

[@OurWyomingLife]

If I asked you, would you come help? Its as simple as that, we are tight with our neighbors and friends. We all help each other and its good to know that if any of us need anything we are there for each other. Plus they come for Erin's sparkling personality. -Mike

[@Gabbos]

Sure, my neighbors might help me move a fridge into the house or move a dead tree. But none of them are going to help me with a TPS report or an actuary table. Even at work people never really bother each other unless its life or death. Theres a big difference in my mind between helping someone with a random chore and helping someone with their work. Especially when they are working for free/burger. Don't get me wrong, I think its beautiful and I think the world needs more of that, this country of ours needs a lot more of that. These days everyone seems to have this mentality of "I got mine... now go get yours! SUCKER!". And for the record, I would gladly come help you, anytime! Maybe its city vs country thing?

[@OurWyomingLife]

Erin just said its because the burgers are made from our very own ranch raised and finished beef, but maybe it is a city vs country thing but I'd like to think there are people, like you, out there that still are willing to help their fellow human. and if you want to teach me how to do an actuary table, well I'd be willing to give it a try, no TPS report for me, but I do have a printer we can beat the crap out of!-Mike

[@johnturner7642]

People are much different in the country then the city. If you need help most people in the country will help. There's a story of a farm in Washington st who got cancer just before harvest and couldn't get the crops in so abonch of the surrounding farms came to help out a short story they got 1200 acres of gain harvested in 9 or 10 hour's

[@KQ4CDF]

I would

[@debcarpenter8519]

Mike, thanks for taking the time to read and answer your viewers comments. That means alot. Have a great week!

[@frankirwin2377]

One advantage in cutting bull calves vs banding to steers results in Mountain Oysters for dinner for the branding party. Every Fall for branding one member of the branding crew kept the bucket of fresh oysters to be prepared for dinner.

[@frankirwin2377]

Oh, one more item on ranch branding crews. A super great lunch and dinner. The neighbors all pitched in because we all helped each ranch complete the big job of branding each Fall.

[@OurWyomingLife]

oh yea, I like them too! Thanks for watching! -Mike

[@charleydan]

Frank Irwin yeah, what a party. Start out with gathering the players, picking teams, and tippong cows. All with oysters and beer, laughter and jokes. Fourth of July comes early.

[@mikestone9129]

Your channel has become my favorite ranching channel.

[@cattleranch1430]

I worked on a couple ranches, one 800 head and one 5,500 head. People showing up is well, it’s the way it is in the ranching world. You won’t find that type of help in the big city. Branding day is awesome!!!

[@telephonyman53]

Watched the live stream and was impressed by the assembly line. I took a break and did some errands and was surprised that the branding was still going on. This review was very helpful in understanding the different steps. Also did not see the original kick to the face, that had to leave a mark. Again, thanks for a fine video for us city slickers.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much and thank you for watching as always. Its amazing once everyone gets in their groove how smooth things go. Sam took quite a blow but he bounced right back, a little bruise and a scrape but overall pretty lucky. -Mike

[@storm.thompson9637]

The day after branding I wish we had something other than myself and 1 other to hold them down makes for a sore day! Love the videos! - Colorado

[@OurWyomingLife]

I bet, thank you very much and thanks for watching - Mike

[@marcel1016]

An amazing video! First time I see live branding. Never thought you would need that many people for branding but I guess there's more to it than I thought. Very informative. Really enjoyed it. Thanks guys👍

[@brolaf37]

Hello from Singapore! Great video, and really appreciate the explanations.. even little stuff like how you noticed the fence needed mending. It's like side quests in video games when all you want to do is complete the main quest! Keep it coming.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Hello Jonathan, thanks for reaching out to us, we really do appreciate the nice words. Erin laughed at your comment, she used to play warcraft quite a bit and she understand the side quests quite well, and I think you are right, my life is a series of side quests trying to get to my final end boss fight! Thanks for watching. -Mike

[@mikeh7708]

Thanks for the video Mike. Been a long time since my last round up, brings back memories. My dad was in the 25th, in Korea during the war.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Hi Mike, thanks for watching. Thats awesome, I'll have to tell Sam next time I see him. I know he loves the history of his division. Thanks a bunch - Mike

[@chuckstevenson2929]

Enjoying your videos. Came over from Guy in WY last week. Thanks for sharing your family and operation.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks for finding us Chuck and thanks for watching! - Mike

[@ronpollockdrywall]

My friends Dad invented and had a patent on cow ear tags. He ran his own newspaper and had several entrepreneur endeavors. Cody Wyoming.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thats awesome, thanks for watching -Mike

[@jaybaker9684]

Interestingly enough ive worked on lots of farms around my home town some all row crop some cattle and never have I ever heard of that electric brander being used and im from north dakota may have to suggest this to a couple guys back home alot of them dont brand at all up here im probaby being silly but my wife let me come back to the oilfield one more time because we also dream of having our own ranch someday and this is the only way i know how to get enough changed for a down payment love the videos tho cant believe all my time online researching cattle and narkets and ive only recently just found your channel keep up the good work boss

[@debcarpenter8519]

What was the second branding I saw them do, higher towards the back? I noticed she sprayed that one also. I watched all of the live stream. Just wish I could have smelled the air as well! People will think I'm strange, but when you've lived in Wyoming and helped with branding, you miss the smell in the air!!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Hi Deb, thanks for watching. The second bar on the hip of the calf is required by the wyoming brand board to make sure that our brand cant be changed into something else like A+, not sure how it helps but its the law haha. We talked at branding how we wish we could bottle the smell, good or bad. -Mike

[@ericvid]

Yep that burnt hide smell

[@dustyrudel6120]

I've noticed on several of your videos that when you're feeding the cows cubes that you pour them in a trail. I found it is better to split the bag into quarters or thirds and pour them in little piles about 10 feet apart. The cows get around it like a roll of hay and no one is standing on cubes or crapping on cubes.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Our cows eat them so fast that there isnt time for them to turn and poop on them, I've went back in a few minutes and can barely find one laying on the ground. They put their head in the row and thats where they stay. Thanks Dusty, you have given me something else to watch out for though! Thanks for watching - Mike

[@zezeandjr4110]

Another educational and great video, but it's the branding that gets me.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you for watching - Mike

[@GerryStilton]

Wow, it's a community come together day!

[@purplepetunia1494]

First time I ever saw a cow chasing a chicken 😂

[@lynnroberge1886]

I'm a "newbie" when it comes to your videos. How was that guy that got kicked in the face by the calf? Tell him I said, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES!

[@paulshakespeare2967]

Looks easier than when I do 3,000 lambs by myself . The noise of separated lambs from ewes gets a bit much but the eating mashing of around a 5,000 sheep keeps me moving fast 😂

[@OurWyomingLife]

Sounds like a chore. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@BuilderCannon]

Cool you got so much help. Im jealous. We only ever have 3 people to brand and no calf table.

[@OurWyomingLife]

We usually get so much help that there are people just watching. Its alot of fun and we pay in BBQ - Thanks for watching - Mike

[@johnturner7642]

Should do a live stream with the baby calfs so we can watch the run around and play

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thats a great idea, thank you - Mike

[@jacobhaupert3881]

Watching the get kicked it kinda hurt me since I work with cows

[@OurWyomingLife]

It hurt me too, but we were lucky, could have been alot worse. Thanks for watching Jacob. -Mike

[@lairfite]

I'm not a fan of branding, in Sweden we got a row of numbers on the ear tag above the number of the cattle that is Conected to the farm it comes from. But I guess that wouldn't work in a place like that, the cattle on your farm seems very well treated tho.

[@OurWyomingLife]

The problem that we run into here is the the sagebrush and barbed wire and stuff, calves and cows lose tags quite often. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@Kingmidget71]

you should have done the pbs style and thanks to viewers like you, thank you

[@OurWyomingLife]

:) - Mike

[@42thgamer80]

Love your channel. I am learing a lot!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks and thanks for watching - Mike

[@42thgamer80]

Our Wyoming Life all the way from Belgium!

[@chadhazekamp6952]

great video . is the seven way vaccine the same as alpha seven ? how often does the neighbors bull get in ?

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Chad, yup its the same seven way clostridial vaccine. Seems like every year we have some issue with the neighbors bull, it all depends on if he chooses to breed his cows across the fence from ours. That pasture has a few draws in it where the fence isnt great and his bull always figures it out, I guess we have cute cows! -Mike

[@johnkoopman1433]

@@OurWyomingLife Mike, haven't you given your cows a nice long talk about batting their eye lashes at the neighbors bull? You really can't blame him if they are out there leading him on, now can you? It's not like he was taught to read brands and to know which brands are free game and which are no-no's, John

[@bironcaldwell3923]

How do you know which Bull calves ny have potential to become "Real" Bulls or is that only done when a bull gets too old?

[@helenhein5374]

My grandpa's brand is jk bar. My dad's brand is O/L.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thats awesome. Thanks Helen - Mike

[@helenhein5374]

What is your brand

[@raymondteska237]

Ouch That kick had to Hurt --

[@ShaynaChambers]

Whats used to help with pain and/or discomfort before and after?

[@OurWyomingLife]

The spray that goes on the brand is very soothing and has a mild pain reliever. thanks for watching - Mike

[@helenhein5374]

My dad does caserating bull calves.🙂

[@OurWyomingLife]

Very cool. Thanks Helen - Mike

[@helenhein5374]

You are welcome Mike.

[@robertpayne2717]

Why not Freeze branding?

[@jesusgarcia3572]

what is the name of the vaccines you gave the calves . ill appreciate if you reply.

[@OurWyomingLife]

No problem, we give them a 7 way vaccine, they also get nasalgen and Pyramid 5 + Presponse. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@jesusgarcia3572]

bid fan

[@davidwahoski5732]

i cant find it n

[@46rambo49]

any problems with Brucellosis in your area?

[@OurWyomingLife]

I havent heard of any lately in this area and mostly its carried by elk which we have few and far inbetween. We do BANGS vaccinate our heifers for Brucellosis at the age of 13 months as its required. Thanks! -Mike

[@cherylcampbell7495]

Nothing better than mt. Oysters and eggs for breakfast

[@carolnetols3919]

U should sell raffle tickets to help with next year's branding

[@OurWyomingLife]

Good idea Carol, I wonder how many people I would have interested? Thanks for watching! -Mike

[@aCycloneSteve]

I might, I'm always trying to learn more and doing is a great way to learn.

[@helenhein5374]

My dad has a same kind of bander like yours Mike

[@OurWyomingLife]

Very cool Thanks Helen - Mike

[@helenhein5374]

You are welcome Mike.😄

[@justto3]

What kind of cows do you have on your ranch?

[@spencerwinchester2917]

Juan Cardenas look like black angus

[@tommylund7527]

The people that come out to help you are all friends and family how many volunteers if any do you have when its time for branding? I live very fare away could i help you with branding or only family and friends that help you?

[@OurWyomingLife]

We pretty much let our friends, neighbors and family come. Anybody who wants to come out really. We do a bbq as well Thanks - Mike

[@tommylund7527]

Our Wyoming Life lets say if i wanted to come out and help could?

[@jerryd6680]

Did any human get accidently vacisanted?

[@OurWyomingLife]

I know that Nick got a few facefulls of the nasal vaccine, guess he wont get sick this summer! Thanks for watching! -Mike

[@cattleranch1430]

Table is the way to go, we used head forks, didn’t like them at all.

[@Jim-rw2jo]

Hey, guys! What is cake?

[@OurWyomingLife]

Hey Jim, I think I hit on it in previous episode, not sure which one. but its a protein supplement for cows, they love it. Not sure why, to me it tastes like dirt! Why its called cake I have no idea, but it is pressed into a pellet. -Mike

[@Jim-rw2jo]

Our Wyoming Life guys this video was amazing! Great work! seriously your best one yet.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much sir! -Mike & Erin!!

[@tanyakam5820]

Banding is a horrific way to do it!!!!😢

[@KQ4CDF]

Rocky Mountain Oysters !

[@chrisbutler6258]

If thats not the strangest T-Shirt I ever saw?

[@OurWyomingLife]

With a chicken on it? hmmmm Thanks for watching - Mike

[@chrisbutler6258]

not just the chicken, but what is written, " awesome sauce" ? lol

[@OurWyomingLife]

I havent been able to figure that one out. But the girls got it for me for fathers day last year, so the least I can do is wear it haha Thanks Chris

[@chrisbutler6258]

Lol, you had better wear it in that case!

[@jonathanoldelk7196]

No ropers and wrestlers I thought Wyoming was the cowboy state

[@OurWyomingLife]

Our corrals are not set up for roping the calves and wrestling them, we work with what we have. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@oldironbuilds6295]

jonathan oldelk that's a sport not a job.

[@connerarmendariz3640]

We rope and drag our calves on horse back. Then we have people mugging the calve to hold them down

[@OurWyomingLife]

There still are people around here that do it that way as well. Thanks Conner - MIke

[@bettylitteral4848]

Sam should be a rodeo bull rider

[@martinspijker9661]

why don,t use coldbranding and spare the calfs that horrible pain and suffering?

[@OurWyomingLife]

We could. Cold branding is considerably more expensive because you have to use dry ice to keep those brands super cold. I like the way they look though and we do have some cattle that have been cold branded. I really dont think it doesnt hurt though, the cold kills the flesh as well. Thanks - Mike

[@OurWyomingLife]

I didnt say that, read back, I said cold branding hurts too. Dont be rude. - Mike

[@CharlieParker1959]

Have you got a viable alternative to branding that would stay with the calf its whole life so as to keep the food chain Well audited or the milk disease free because without branding you would never know how healthy and well looked after the herd is. also, it helps in disease control like when we had mad cow disease and foot and mouth here in the UK the government knew where every diseased herd was

[@aCycloneSteve]

I know some people have RFD chips in ear tags but sometimes ear tags come out and then you're really lost! I guess you could inject RFD chips in the neck but I don't know how to do it or what it costs or how you could easily look up a cow. Every time you wanted to see if an animal was yours you would need to get close, cut it from the other cows and then check it with a portable reader. It could be done but it seems a lot easier to just brand them. Time will tell.

[@ryan41686]

Martin Spijker are you just trying to troll here? Cattle hide is many times more thick than human hide so your statement to try it on his family is just plain dumb. Branding has literally been used for thousands of years as a way to identify livestock, and when done by seasoned and professional ranchers there is little discomfort to the animal since the brand doesn't melt down to the tissue beneath the skin. But you wouldn't know that because I doubt you have any experience working with livestock of any kind. I branded my first cow at age 7 and did many thousands after that. Know what you are talking about before you spout off with the kind of crap you have written here.

[@peretzo]

I think you are a good person and your channel is interesting to watch; and i subscribed to it. But the suffering inflicted on these animals is undeniable; and it’s a mystery to me how such fine people with insight to animal psyche can be so oblivious to the suffering they inflict. This is not directed personally towards anyone; just the human phenomenon. sad.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Well I think you are wrong when you say oblivious, that word makes someone seem like they dont care and you couldnt be farther from the truth. Most ranchers I know care so much about their livestock that it takes over their whole lives and taking care of that livestock leads to taking care of their families, their tradition and their entire way of life. Thanks Omer :) - Mike

[@johnkoopman1433]

@@OurWyomingLife Mike, it's like everything else in life...some people want to put themselves in the place of the animal and therefore "feel" the pain of that animal. From that they associate GOOD and BAD people for causing the pain to the poor defenseless animal. Heck, you've even got a group out there that associate "pain" to picking beans and tomatoes in the garden, or cutting lettuce and cabbage. 'Tis a strange world we live in today and the more I live in the city the more I miss country life. Keep on keeping on and I'll be here watching. - John

[@aaronklingler8171]

I feel kinda horrible but my favorite part is when he got kicked in the face maybe it’s seeing someone else getting hurt