Back in April I had the pleasure of meeting Lawana and Stacey Manning the owners and operators of Buffalo Creek Dairy in Rural Hall North Carolina. I had invited them down to meet the English Shepherd breed at our Jeannie Joy Hartnage Taylor Sheep Camp. They had recently lost their sweet, precious, smart Border Collie Allie. And were thinking about an English Shepherd for their farm.
The Mannings decided on a Drover BOO puppy. This puppy was born for dairy farm work ! Cheyenne’s dam BOO comes from a long line of cattle working dogs thru the Helms blood she carries. Cheyenne’s ancestors have been working cow dogs. This does not guarantee alone that she will work cows. It is however an important part of the decision to choose this puppy for this type of work.
Meet Ms. Cheyenne.
Why do I say she was born for Dairy Farm work?
One: she is bossy! Cows need a boss!
Two : she is alert to every detail of the work going on round her. She wants to assist when needed. She loves the rules.
Three: At just 6 months Cheyenne is super biddable.
Four: Cheyenne is strong willed but soft enough to work dairy cows.
I will be participating in Cheyenne’s training. I am excited about this! I will be going to Buffalo Creek Dairy often, to learn their daily routine as well as other areas Cheyenne will be helpful in. And then I will be helping to train Cheyenne on the job!
One job Cheyenne can help with moving the calves. They are kept in a nice big special barn until they are old enough to go out in the field. When they go out they are loaded on a trailer ( Dog Job) then taken to a field and unloaded (Dog Job). The calves do not understand electric fences. There is a small area for the calves to meet (an electric fence) this is a new important part of the rest of their lives…. This is the safe , smart way. No stress and the calves learn to stay away from and stay inside the fence. Then they are turned out into a larger field. (Dog Job) the fence line is protected by the dog until the calves learn to remember the electric fence is there.
If you do this properly then when the calves are grown cows they will stay where they are suppose to. Done incorrectly the cows can learn to run thru fences and cause all kinds of trouble.
So why protect the fence lines? Have you ever seen baby goats playing? Think large calves going “Ye Ha!” running and playing like the baby goats do! They are so excited! And fun to watch…but must learn to remember even in their excitement “where” the boundaries are located.
Cheyenne and Lawana were awesome!!! (After the calves settled into their new pasture) Cheyenne and Lawana moved the calves slowly and carefully up and around the fence lines and then in and out the holding area. I doubt the calves will be a problem after this lesson on the fence!
Meet Milk Cows with the proper respect for the boundaries:
We worked all day from 8:30 AM until dark. We did many things…mostly a taste of the work needed on a farm of this type and size. As with any farm work… the land, the jobs, all the needs are different. KAT and I went to learn the routines and the types of work Cheyenne will be needed to preform on this farm. We will be going back to learn more and assist in moving heifers from the lower pastures. Typically the Mannings have people to block areas and move the cows. Again this is a (Dog Job) . We will be helping and learning ways to teach Cheyenne to do this job in the near future!
KAT Ballou and I arrived home around 7:30 PM. KAT went to her bed and fell fast asleep! I woke her at 11:00 PM to go potty. She raised her head and gave me a look that said “seriously?” She did not get up to eat unti the next morning! She was a tired but happy dog!
I too fell into the bed and slept well dreaming of our next visit!
Cheyenne and KAT at Buffalo Creek Dairy waiting to go move calves!
