Fall is in the air. It is time to bring the cattle home from the summer pastures when it gets cooler. They know the way home because they have traveled this road before, going to and from the summer range. They are allowed to travel at their own pace. We ride horses behind them to ensure that they stay out of other people's property along the way.
Once they arrive home, they need to be monitored closely to check for sickness such as pnuemonia, which they are more susceptible to in the colder weather. They also need to receive their vaccination booster shot. These shots are similar to the shots that our children receive. They ensure that the vaccine that was given to them in the spring will remain effective and continue to provide protection. We do this under the advice of our veternarian so that they are receiving the proper dosage. We also want to give it to them as soon as possible from bringing them home, because they will soon be going to the auction where they will then be taken to be fed a good grain feed. The vaccine that is administered will not affect the meat or have any side effects by the time that they are marketed as a saleable meat product. We want to produce a safe and healthy meat product and this is one way we can do that.