Photostory: Warren Wilson’s Cattle Moves

Quinn Bonney | September 29, 2021

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Atlas Jones and Allie Tkach, the Shepard and Cattle Boss, on their way to set up a paddock in the new pasture.

Jones and Tkach setting up the boundaries for the cattle. Tkach is carrying poly wire and step-ins to set the perimeter for the paddock.

When cattle are moved to a new pasture, paddocks are set up, subdividing the pasture into 12 and 24 hour grazing increments. This prevents cattle from overgrazing and damaging the soil.

Tkach lines up the step-ins for the boundary.

Setting up warning signs on Riceville road is important to keeping traffic from interrupting cattle as they move from Dogwood to Night Pasture.

Tkach turns off the electric fence so it can safely be handled to release the cows.

“We love talking to people, love people coming down, or to shadow. Even if they don’t want to be on a farm crew. I feel we have a bad rap about being closed off and cliché, but we aren't. We work hard together and spend a lot of time together. If you want to be a part of the farm in any capacity come down and talk to us. This is the community space as much as it is the farm crew space,” said Tkach.

“People feel intimidated coming down here, but really, come hangout in the pastures. We usually tell people what pastures they can be in and what pastures they cannot. This really is the school’s space and a part of campus, you are allowed to be here and be a part of this,” said Jones.

Cattle are moved toward the bottom of Dogwood.

Tkach yells, “Come Bos!” to call the cattle to follow her. This is a phrase that calves have been trained to respond to since birth. The call originates from the genus of the cattle, Bos Taurus.

Moo!

The run begins as the cows enter the road leading to their new pasture.

Approximately fifty cows and fifty calves are moved daily.

The cattle are ushered through the gate into their new pasture.

The best part of being on farm crew:

“Calving and lambing, seeing the animals I've raised. I’ve done three calving seasons. The babies I've helped birth are now having babies. It’s nice to see the development and how they’ve grown,” said Tkach.

“Every pasture is a different size — like Stokes out by the river, which we know we will only be in for a day versus a place like Dogwood where we’ve had cows there since the beginning of September. We move the cows everyday, whether it’s pasture or a different paddock. We are constantly moving them. The intricacy of exactly when completely depends on the paddock, the weather and the season,” said Tkach.