Out Around the Barn

Here we are almost a year on our blog.  We have posted over 70 blogs and would appreciate comments from our readers.  We would like to know your opinions and ideas about our blog.  If there is an article that caught your eye, let me know your thoughts on the subject.  We look forward to hearing from you.

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We are a farm family and enjoy our animals and farm life.  So talking about the farm and all that it requires is a passion of ours.  From equine supplements to chicken coupes, we will discuss just about anything.  Comments welcome.

Cattle sorting is an art that grew out of necessity. Ranches in the American prairie lands often butted up against each other. As a result, cattle herds became mixed up and ranchers lost track of their valuable property. Ranchers solved this problem by branding their cattle with an identifying mark and then sorting their cattle into a pen using special tools.

Cattle sorting sticks feature a paddle end used to shepherd cattle into a designated area. Successful sorting depends on a keen understanding of cattle behavior. For instance, handlers need to stay outside of the cattle’s comfort zone – sometimes a distance as large as 300 feet – in order to get them to move without spooking. A handler’s positioning outside this comfort zone helps to influence the cattle’s movement.