How to Sort Cows
Set up pens and corrals for cattle to be sorted into., Move cattle into a smaller corral where they can be more easily handled., Open up the gate to where you need to sort the first group in., Move to one corner of the working corral, away from the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Set up pens and corrals for cattle to be sorted into.
You cannot do any sorting without having other corrals to put separated cattle into.
If you are wanting to hold them for a length of time, they will need watering facilities and a feeding and bedding area.
If possible and necessary, access to separate pastures is also necessary to keep the groups from mixing.
This step will take significant amount of time to plan and do especially if you don't have the facilities set up yet.
Room needed depends on the size of the animals and the number you have, plus the layout based on ease of access with tractors and machinery for feeding. -
Step 2: Move cattle into a smaller corral where they can be more easily handled.
It is difficult to sort any cattle that are in a large corral or pasture because they have more room to escape and get around you to places where you don't want them to.
This corral, a "working pen," needs to be central to where you intend to sort two or more groups into. , Only one gate is needed.
Sorting is made easy when you give animals only one route to "escape," and you are there to control who "escapes" and who does not., Stay near the gate so that you can control their movements.
Cattle like to go by or around you.
They don't like it if you walk with them.
They especially find it distracting if one person is in with the herd trying to "push" them and the other is standing by the gate.
In a small corral where the handler at the gate can easily manipulate their movements, only one person is needed to sort. , Moving towards the opening stops animals from coming through, whereas taking a step backward invites them to come through the gate.,, Cows and cattle can be sneaky where one animal may be hiding in the back than wanting to go through, so it doesn't hurt to do a double and triple check to make sure you've sorted out everyone that needs to be sorted. -
Step 3: Open up the gate to where you need to sort the first group in.
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Step 4: Move to one corner of the working corral
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Step 5: away from the gate.
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Step 6: Step towards the gate opening or backward
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Step 7: depending on the animal.
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Step 8: Close the gate when all animals from the main herd is separated into the different corral.
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Step 9: Do a second and third check to see if you actually did get everyone.
Detailed Guide
You cannot do any sorting without having other corrals to put separated cattle into.
If you are wanting to hold them for a length of time, they will need watering facilities and a feeding and bedding area.
If possible and necessary, access to separate pastures is also necessary to keep the groups from mixing.
This step will take significant amount of time to plan and do especially if you don't have the facilities set up yet.
Room needed depends on the size of the animals and the number you have, plus the layout based on ease of access with tractors and machinery for feeding.
It is difficult to sort any cattle that are in a large corral or pasture because they have more room to escape and get around you to places where you don't want them to.
This corral, a "working pen," needs to be central to where you intend to sort two or more groups into. , Only one gate is needed.
Sorting is made easy when you give animals only one route to "escape," and you are there to control who "escapes" and who does not., Stay near the gate so that you can control their movements.
Cattle like to go by or around you.
They don't like it if you walk with them.
They especially find it distracting if one person is in with the herd trying to "push" them and the other is standing by the gate.
In a small corral where the handler at the gate can easily manipulate their movements, only one person is needed to sort. , Moving towards the opening stops animals from coming through, whereas taking a step backward invites them to come through the gate.,, Cows and cattle can be sneaky where one animal may be hiding in the back than wanting to go through, so it doesn't hurt to do a double and triple check to make sure you've sorted out everyone that needs to be sorted.
About the Author
Patricia Edwards
Committed to making cooking accessible and understandable for everyone.
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