Cowmen use stock pen logic. (original) (raw)

Most old cowmen and cowboys have worked in hundreds of corrals during their lifetimes. Some pens were built with new welded pipe, galvanized panels and were painted. Others were built of used railroad ties and landing matts, surplus from World War II. Others were hog wire, barbed wire or salvaged telephone poles or raw cedar stays cut with an axe and set in stockade design.

No matter the construction design or materials used, the thing remembered was, did the livestock work easily or was the work difficult? Whichever the answer, why? What was responsible for the difficulties or the ease of the work?

Recently, while returning from a trip to New Mexico, we stopped to take photos of one of the few remaining original railroad stockyards, built beside the tracks in Roy, N.M. The railroadswere among the first to design good working livestock facilities. Evidently, they consulted a smart old rancher with experience before beginning construction. Eventually, the design was built all across the West wherever large amounts of livestock were being gathered and loaded on cars.

The pens were built of stout, creosoted posts and lumber, tall enough to prevent jumping over the top. Wide, stout gates were touted throughout the facility supported by long adjustable metal rods to keep the gates swinging free. Gate latches were designed with gravity control which prevented the gates from opening without human help. Long wings opening to the surrounding prairie made penning herds easy.

Since most herds of any era were purchased with the option to cull and sort various weights, sexes and quality, cutting alleys were designed into the center of any group of associated pens. The theory was to have the option of moving any pen of cattleto any other pen without having to go through a pen. In fact, several herds belonging to different owners could be handled at once. The railroadswere the first to install weigh scales to accurately determine livestock weights.

My �dream pen design,� based on a set of pens near Goodnightwould be designed like this: Build barns and windbreaks on a hill facing the south for weather protection and to prevent cattlefrom looking north to open range. Round up cattlefrom the south driving north uphill into a large water lot where the cattlewater and salt every day. After penning into the water lot, shut the gate to prevent escape and push the herd into the main corrals, still going uphill to the north.

Once inside the main corrals, move cattleto the north side against the barns and windbreaks. Then, begin sorting, working through chutes, alleys, etc., back to the south where they came from and, of course, downhill. Since they can�t see to the north, and they want to escape to the south, downhill where they originally came from, the flow of cattlewill be natural and easy to manage.

Of course, not every ranch terrain offers this ideal location. But I can promise, from experience, that each of these suggestions will enhance the ease of how your pens work.

�

Delbert Trew - November 22, 2011 column
More "It's All Trew"
Delbert Trew is a freelance writer and retired rancher. He can be reached at 806-779-3164, by mail at Box A, Alanreed, TX 79002, or by email at trewblue@centramedia.net. For books see delberttrew.com. His column appears weekly.Related Topics: Texas Ranching | Columns| Texas Panhandle | Texas