Shipping lambs

I helped ship several thousand lambs off Sublette Flat one morning this week. The day began with the trucks arriving at daylight.

The lamb and ewe flock enter the corrals. Having ewes in the herd helps to keep the lambs calm while they are handled.

The herd is pushed up the sorting chute to the cutting gate. Ewes are cut to the right into the next pen, and lambs are cut to the left into a small loading pen, which is attached to the loading chute they will walk up to load onto the trucks. The poles with arms above the sorting chute are made for hanging lanterns, since most years, sorting begins before daylight.

Ewes and lambs await the push toward the front.

Mystro for an orchestra of sheep: ranch owner Pete Arambel:

Like father, like son: Lou Arambel at work:

This is Prem, who is the ranch foreman. He is from Nepal and we've got to know him over the years and really enjoy the opportunity to talk with him about life in Nepal.

This is Ramu, who is also from Nepal. I loved watching him with one of the bearded collies. Any time Ramu would jump over a fence to work in a different section of the pens, his dog was frantic until he could rejoin his partner.

Before the trucks can leave with their loads, the brand inspector and veterinarian fill out the brand and health inspection reports they must carry.