Ep 10. Calf Working

In this episode of The Pioneer Woman, host Ree Drummond takes viewers on a journey through the process of calf working on the Drummond ranch. Calf working is an essential part of ranch life, as it involves branding, vaccinating, and castrating newborn calves in order to keep them healthy and safe.

Ree starts the day off by explaining the process of rounding up the calves. She and her husband Ladd, along with their kids and ranch hands, hop on their horses and ride out to the pasture where the calves are grazing. The Drummonds have several hundred head of cattle on their ranch, so rounding them all up can be quite a task. But with the help of their trusty horses and their skilled hands, they manage to corral the calves into a pen.

Once the calves are in the pen, the real work begins. Ree and her crew start by separating the newborns from their mothers. This can be a challenging and emotional task, as the cows tend to get protective of their young and can become aggressive. But the team manages to safely separate the calves and get them ready for branding.

Branding is an important part of calf working, as it helps to identify the calves and keep track of their health records. Ree and her crew heat up the branding irons and carefully mark each calf with the Drummond Ranch brand. The process is quick but intense, as the calves understandably don't like having a hot iron pressed against their skin.

Next up is vaccination. Ree and her team carefully administer shots to each calf to protect them from diseases like blackleg and pneumonia. This is a crucial step in ensuring the health and well-being of the animals, as diseases can spread quickly in a herd.

Finally, it's time for castration. While it may sound like a brutal process, castration is actually necessary for several reasons. First, it helps the calves grow larger and more meaty by redirecting their energy away from reproductive organs and towards muscle development. Second, it prevents unwanted breeding and helps keep the herd under control. Ree and her team castrate each calf quickly and efficiently, ensuring that they experience as little pain as possible.

Throughout the episode, Ree provides insight into the life of a rancher and the important work that goes into raising and caring for livestock. Her love for the animals is palpable, and it's clear that she takes great pride in the work she does on the ranch. Watching her and her team at work is both fascinating and educational, and viewers are sure to come away with a newfound appreciation for the hard work that goes into producing the food we eat.