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October 21, 2026 - Head Down and Homeward Bound

Cattle drives across the County are underway.  

We have hit the fall seasonal movement of bringing our cows back home from those once green and full pastures to wean, start winter feeding and prep for calving. Just last week, on three separate occasions, I pulled over to let the trotting herds of cattle pass by. Riders on horseback and quads pushing from behind with no one leading… those momma cows knew exactly where they were heading – homeward bound.  

For some who work right here in our Agriculture and Community Services Department, Thanksgiving weekend usually falls in line with their own cattle drive. This year it was a bundle up kind of weekend for working cows as the snow flew and the wind blew. But the weather only made the hot delicious turkey dinner that much better.  

Please keep in mind that when driving throughout our rural county, you too may encounter a cattle drive. If you approach the herd head on, pull over, stop, shut off your vehicle and patiently wait while the cattle move around you. If you come up to a herd moving in front and away from you, it would be best to turn around and find an alternative route. Driving through the herd could result in stress for the cattle and displace their flow resulting in less of a drive and more of a rodeo.  

Try to make eye contact with one of the people helping. They are also watching you closely and can help direct you in what to do. Never honk your horn or try to yell for their attention.  

Those who travel long distances from their summer pastures back home may want to consider their route and what hazards can be mitigated beforehand. Biosecurity measures are important to instill to minimize disease risks. It’s a great idea to thoroughly clean and disinfect trucks and trailers before moving livestock to new premises if your herd may contact other external herds or flocks, and common-use corrals or trailheads are being utilized.  

There tends to be an influx of communications regarding “cows out”. Instinctively, cattle know it’s that time of year again and they should be pushing their way home. At times, becoming a little too pushy, crowding gates and stretching wire. If you see cattle out on roadways, a courtesy call to the landowners would be helpful. Law enforcement like the RCMP or Community Peace Officers can be called when public safety is at risk.  

When cattle trespass onto your own property and the courtesy calls to the owners are falling on deaf ears, it is time to call the Livestock Brand Inspectors. This avenue is better suited when addressing livestock at large. Although Agriculture Services would be happy to assist as a liaison, livestock inspectors have the designated authority to act. Fines can be significant, up to $5,000 for failure to comply with the Stray Animals Act and no more than $2,000 a person who permits livestock to stray on a highway.  

Cattle drives are a fun, exciting and family-filled event producers look forward to. As the last of the herd filters through the gate and the chains wrap closed around the panels, a sense of accomplishment and reassurance settles in. We at the Agriculture and Community Services Department wish everyone happy trails this fall season.