Home Life And Travel Of Rodeo Stock
Frolicking in grass hitting their bellies, rodeo stock spends a majority of their time in a pasture. “Herd management is a huge component of keeping these animals healthy,” Beutler said. “Our horses get 24/7 access to hay and grass, but the bulls have to be regulated or they will eat themselves to death. All of our animals get grain once a day and always have water from our well.” Supplemented with salt and protein, some of Beutler’s animals are easier to keep than others. “These animals are a lot like kids, you have to keep some of them separated because they don’t get along and they end up hurting each other,” Beutler said. “Some of our animals are older than others so they need a little more TLC. Their welfare is our top priority, if they do not feel good they won’t perform. It gives us no advantage to treat our animals poorly. We give them every opportunity in the world to thrive.”
The rough stock are loaded on trailers using the head to tail system. It is an intricate process to make sure all animals are loaded precisely. Though it looks crowded, stock contractors load loose so the animals have room to shift with the movement of the truck. Photo courtesy of Beutler and Sons Rodeo Company.
It is the nature of cattle to follow each other anywhere, since they are herd animals that is their instinct. Photo courtesy of Lindsay King.
Rodeo LIFE
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