THE COWBOY CORNER EDITION 16 VOL.1

Cattle Weaning

Cattle workings—it's that time of year again. For any ranch, it’s as essential as breathing, a crucial moment for both mother cow and calf. It’s a rite of passage. We’re talking about the calf’s big promotion—from baby calf to rebellious yearling. Gone are the days of milk mustaches; now it's all about grazing on grass and hay. The yearling phase is when they truly start to bulk up, all while mom shifts her attention to the next calf in line

Before I dive into the latest shenanigans from our most recent cattle working, I want to clear the air on weaning. Some folks hear "weaning" and imagine sad eyes and dramatic farewells, but in reality, it's a healthy and necessary transition. Think of it like moving a baby from formula to solid foods—it’s a little awkward at first, but it’s the only way for them to grow. Cattle, just like humans, need to move on from milk to, well, greener pastures.

Once they’ve kissed mom goodbye (okay, not literally), the yearlings form their own little teenage gang. They stick together like glue, causing all sorts of mayhem—think broken fences, busted gates, and the occasional jailbreak. But hey, they’re growing! Once we’re through the teenage years, the heifers that join the big herd have a way of settling down and maturing. They’ll roam a little more independently, but not too far from the rest—kind of like teenagers finally finding their identity.

Now, onto our latest adventure! It all kicked off on a crisp Monday morning. First challenge: rounding up the horses. You’d think in a wide-open pasture they’d be easy to spot, right? Wrong. After a game of hide-and-seek that Faith was losing, we decided to streamline things—just one horse today. Aaron saddled up, while Sam hopped in the side-by-side (4x4), thinking it’d save us time. And yes, it was a practical decision given that we were moving along our road and smoother terrain.

Next up, the big move. We had to lead the cattle down from the pastures on our flats and bring them into the pens for weaning. Low stress is the name of the game here, and what better way to guide the herd than with an old military Hummer? Yes, you read that right. We’ve rigged it with a feeder that serves as the bovine equivalent of a carrot on a stick. And while the cattle chase after that delicious bait, Aaron and Sam provide backup—gently nudging the stragglers from behind.

Once penned, we separate moms from calves with the help of a sorting chute. Picture a cowboy perched up like a lifeguard, gently swinging a gate to guide each animal left or right into the appropriate pen. Moms to one side, calves to the other. It’s a smooth system that’s been perfected over time—well, smooth-ish.

The next few days involve branding and other health checks. We’ve got our vet on hand for bloodwork, but the biggest challenge is getting the yearlings to realize hay is their new best friend. Cowboys with rough hands but gentle hearts come into play here, easing the cattle toward the feed bunks, where the hay sits at eye level like a five-star buffet. It’s a lot like convincing a toddler that broccoli is edible—you’ve got to be patient.

For about a week, it’s all about the hay. Then, once they’ve gotten the hang of it, the yearlings head back out to the pastures, living their best lives on a diet of grass—with a side of grain snacks, because who doesn’t love a treat?

At the end of the day, cattle weanings are more than just a task on the ranch—they're a reminder of the cycle of life and growth, both for the cattle and for us. Every yearling that takes its first bite of hay and every cow that heads back to the herd means we’re doing our job right. It’s long hours, a little chaos, and a whole lot of patience, but it’s what keeps this ranch moving forward. And honestly, watching those yearlings grow and thrive—well, that's what makes it all worthwhile. Until the next roundup, we’ll be out here, with our rough hands and gentle hearts, doing what we do best.

 

 

Meet the Author:
For those new to my newsletter, I’m Connor McCauley, and I’m married to a fifth-generation rancher. Much of what I write comes from my own perspective, which is shaped by a unique blend of backgrounds. Raised in the home of a stockbroker in Southeast Pennsylvania, my outlook often contrasts sharply with my current life on a Texas ranch. In 2015, I moved to Colorado to pursue a career in the ski resorts, where I met my amazing wife, Helen. By 2021, we made the full-time move to her family’s ranch, where I’ve taken on a range of roles—from ranch hand to marketer to retail manager.