18,000 cattle roam over 500,000 acres on Canada's largest ranch. Mothers and calves, about 250 pairs, plus bulls, are calm and easier to move in the cool, pre-dawn air.
Riders nudge their cows along gently.
The herd holds together. They'll be on new grass before the day is over. But there's trouble if those pairs get separated. The cowboys know that when range cattle are pushed too hard, the herd spreads out fast. Calves lose their mothers and start bawling like babies.