livestock 1
Member
None in byres here either thank the lord. However a SKH wheelbarrow is a great thing to build your kids muscles upIt's a zen thing mate.
I've got masses of em, and most are as dopey as can be a lot of the time.
(gave up byres decades since mind)
On sticks....
You can handle cattle perfectly well without one, as several very pro drovers now do.
Equally, I rarely get in the crush pen, or go to sort cattle without one.
You use them firstly to prod a nose to turn it, or to make a noise as said.
It's 2nd nature to touch it to an animal who mightn't have seen you, as you speak, to let her know where you are....the kick is less likely to connect if you shock her.
And when something really needs telling - I endeavour to never let a beast barge past me instead of proceeding, to avoid them learning bad habits - or when something starts to get fruity... a smart rap on the snout releases endorphins, or whatever it does, and changes their attitude toot sweet.
If a beast gets nasty.....you're either gonna jump out the way, or educate it. And a soft word seldom does much by then.
For those who don't know it. A poly pipe makes a louder thwack against a legging or such, and indeed, is unlikely to snap.
However, a seasoned hazel stick of a suitable diameter will ....er...focus the attention of a beast far more when the chips are down.
At the end of the day, you would struggle to inflict any actual harm, beyond a skin deep bruise, with a bit of blue pipe...whereas a stiff bit of 30mm hazel, or better yet blackthorn/holly...well, a heavy fella could pretty much crack your head open with it.
I use either, but prefer 22-24mm hazel.
I have written books on the subject, but concede I'm an anorak.
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