Mustering the long paddock

[ucci]

G'day
Used to be a common practice here in the old days. In times of drought, and when feed was short, sheep and cattle were mustered and allowed to meander slowly along the edges of roads to graze on grass for as far as they could travel. It was free feed, just going to waste on roadsides. And it was referred to as running your mob of cattle or sheep in "The Long Paddock." In the old days there would be several horse mounted outriders holding the mob in check, usually with the help of dogs. Utes now play a part in this form of modern day mustering.

With modern regulations, heavy traffic, etc, and despite the fact that at the moment we are in drought and feed is very short and the paddocks are pretty bare, feeding out in the Long Paddock is not a common sight these days. I was at a bush BBQ when I saw this and had to speed, well, shuffle as fast as the old legs would pump, several hundred yards to get close enough to frame a few shots before they had moved on. So these were very much unplanned shots of opportunity, sort of knee jerk reaction captures.

Anyway. That's my story. Hope someone found it of interest as backgound to my post. Thanks for droppin' by to view. Next time give me 'hoy' that you might be dropping by and I'll bung on the billy for a cuppa and rustle up some fresh damper.

Hey.... Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it. And for those who don't? Hey get in on it. Else you will be missing out on lots of good tucker and prezzies. And you can always be a recidivist come January, hanging on to the prezzies of course! And you might have to address any weight problem from over indulging over the festive season
Got to go as some kid in a manger in a stable is threatening to report me to his Old Man who apparently is a big cheese and apparently omnipotent. Not the sort of Guy an old fool like me wants to mess and take the mickey with.
Anyway. In seriousness. Have good Christmas, drive safely and spare a thought for our fellow persons who are suffering and in terror in war torn countries, where peace and goodwill are casualties of fear, terror and violence. And remember, while we are feasting ,often to excess, most of these poor devils just don't even have enough to eat for a next meal.
Old ucci

[NorthernFocus]

Interesting post, Ken. In more ways than one...

When we were in Spain last spring, it seemed to be fairly common practice in rural areas to graze livestock along the roadsides. We saw it several times while cycling through the countryside.

Tonight is our last in Victoria and in Oz. We enjoyed you part of the world including driving through seemingly endless farmland here in Vic. We drove down the coast and back up through farm country on our way back to Melbourne. Loved it all. We fly tomorrow afternoon. Back to the snow where we can celebrate a properly stereotypical Christmas. Though I suspect the weather here is more similar to that of the original event.

Merry Christmas to you.

[Shadowman]

Nice series and backstory.

[Mike Buckley]

Nice series and backstory.

Agreed!

[Wavelength]

Very nice set

[Dave A]

Interesting story, I learned something today and it's only 8:35 AM.

Dave

[DEAN01]

Nice series, Ken. When I live in south central Texas my neighbor grazed his cattle along the roadside drought or not. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[Donald]

As always, Ken, you don't just present us with images, but with a text that you find yourself hooked into and that has to be finished before you can look at the images. Some very relevant and important messages in what you write.

As for images, I think this is wonderful .....

I love how the shadows play on the road. The trees look great. And just having the glimpse of road is all we need. Yep, that is a really nice picture. A lovely composition.

[bnnrcn]

Nice series and story

[NorthernFocus]

By the way, what is the difference in a pasture and a paddock? Geography?

[Dave Humphries]

By the way, what is the difference in a pasture and a paddock? Geography?

Let me guess, let me guess (being a non-'horsey' or 'farmy' person) and see if I'm right

Pasture is for eating (IOW animals are put out to pasture to remain fed while unattended)

Paddock is for exercise (IOW animals are put in a paddock to keep them together outdoors, they may well be fed in a stable or yard at certain times of the day)

Was I close?
Mind you, that's not really what's happening in a 'long paddock', is it?

As you can tell; Ken has educated me today too

[ucci]

Pasture is for eating (IOW animals are put out to pasture to remain fed while unattended)

Paddock is for exercise (IOW animals are put in a paddock to keep them together outdoors, they may well be fed in a stable or yard at certain times of the day)

Rather than stir a possum up a tree with a sharp stick and kick off an acrimonious round of 'argy bargy ' on this I have sent private messages to those concerned re paddocks versus pastures. Maybe there is not the difference between which I attribute and is more to a mind set by me. Perhaps ordinary folk like old ucci and Mrs ucci have paddocks whereas wealthy farmers and 'rolling in cash' Pastoral Companies have pastures? I am not in a position to argue the point. Of course Mrs ucci, in her own down to earth way, did suggest I should either google for an answer or consult a reputable dictionary for the defined meaning. But hey, when was i ever known to use basic logic or to take the easy way out?

[Rob Ekins]

Gold as usual Ken!

I really like the second image as well,

On the subject of paddocks or should it be "paddiks" I drove past your front paddock last week, I slowed down way to much for comfort on that stretch of road and had a quick looksee for you, Mrs Ucci or any Roos....nothing! Just those towers on an omniscient hill, beeped the horn twice and drove on..

But...those towers on the hill will be forever etched in my mind now as Mr and Mrs Ucci looking over country...

[Dave Humphries]

Seems my guess was incorrect:

The differentiator is apparently whether the owner cultivates the enclosed land to improve the 'crop' for the animals to feed on. If they do; then it is a pasture, else a paddock (or paddik).

Ken's word; that's good enough for me.

Cheers, Dave

[IzzieK]

Do me a favour Ken and Glenise...go to Christmas Hills with me in mind so I can feel what Chrissie is all about over there, why it is called Christmas Hills...it is located just right around your neighbourhood, isn't it?