Ready for the Catch - Outback Australia
by Lexa Harpell
Title
Ready for the Catch - Outback Australia
Artist
Lexa Harpell
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
Ready for the Catch - Outback Australia by Lexa Harpell.
The art of bronco branding (branding identification on cattle) is the traditional method of branding stock in Outback Australia.
Although large cattle stations use quicker methods where they have purpose built yards to funnel the cattle through - especially when you have very large numbers of stock.
Remote stations still use this traditional method saving on the cost of building yards or transporting the stock long distances.
Firstly, the stockmen muster the mob of cattle and hold them, or can be held in drafting yards.
The 'Catcher' (usually the head stockman or someone who has strong roping skills) ropes a cow from his horse and the 2 of the 3 ground crew will each rope a back or front leg to be able to lay the cow on the ground. The 3rd ground crew will assist, then brand the animal.
Sounds simple? hmmm not quite.
Cattle are large animals with fierce kicking power, lashing out at anything in its vicinity - - and that means the ground crew stockmen. So they have to keep their eyes on the animal at all times with quick reflexes.
Bruised and broken ribs, broken ankles, concussions are not uncommon to the naive and experienced.
In South Australia, there are many annual events of competition to keep up this traditional art of branding - and apparently it is a lot of fun???
Uploaded
July 13th, 2021
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