The Jenkins family gather with neighbours at their ranch The Lazy U near Pincher Creek, Alta. to brand their cattle on May 15.Leah Hennel/Leah Hennel
Every spring, ranch families get together to help their neighbours brand their cattle, going from ranch to ranch to pitch in with chores, which are as much practical as they are traditional.
Though there are a few other ways for ranchers to keep track of their cattle, the time-honoured practice of marking the flanks of the year’s herd of calves makes it easy to tell at a glance which cattle belong to which ranch.
The Jenkins family gathered at their ranch – the Lazy U, near Pincher Creek, Alta. – on a Sunday in May with family and neighbours to brand cattle.
A rancher ropes cattle during branding.Leah Hennel/Leah Hennel
A puff of smoke and a quick snip with a sharp blade and a bull calf becomes a steer.Leah Hennel/Leah Hennel
Sorting cattle during branding at the Lazy U Ranch.The Globe and Mail
A rancher swings a lasso to rope a calf.Leah Hennel/The Globe and Mail
Marking the the year’s herd of calves makes it easy to tell which cattle belong to which ranch.Leah Hennel/The Globe and Mail
Children play with a toy farm set.Leah Hennel
The children help out during branding.The Globe and Mail
Ranch families get together to help neighbours brand their cattle.The Globe and Mail
The families go from ranch to ranch to pitch in.Leah Hennel/The Globe and Mail
Ryley Jenkins rides through the Waterton River at the Lazy U Ranch.The Globe and Mail
Ranchers gather at the Waterton River.The Globe and Mail
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