Some Alliance members want to experience what it's like on a ranch. Riding, herding, and the foods that are enjoyed there. -- BKF
[AN: Farming doesn't have to be a tourist activity, no matter how advanced the civilisation]
It's not that cattle farming is extinct. It's just that tube-grown meat is cheaper and more economical in space stations and long-haul vessels. Since most of Alliance interactions occur in those environments, it's simple to presume that cattle farming is a bygone art.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
On planets, nutrition is a lot easier to obtain. The price is still steeper than the cloned stuff, but not as exorbitant as it would be on a station. After all, the Time taken to raise the meat must be paid for. The people who invest their Time in raising food in natural environments care about the work they do and the results from their efforts. Nevertheless, there is always some time to educate the curious.
Rancher Mais had already coached the assorted space folk through riding a horse. He had made sure they were all on horses who knew the job and were cool with people who weren't confident riding a horse. At least one of the Spacers was still tripping out because they were actually touching a Deathworlder animal larger than a Skitty[1].
They were more focused on petting the horse's fur than paying attention to current events.
Mais buddied them up with one of his new students who was great at understanding the assignment. "Today, we are riding over the south ridge," just to be sure, he pointed at it, "and rounding up the herd to drive them through the valley to the east." Again, gesturing in the rough direction. Mais knew he would be doing a majority of the work while the Spacers were more or less riding along.
"Are we scaring them?" asked one of the more tremulous visitors.
"We're encouraging the herd to mosey on along. If they stay where they are, they'll run out of food. Those of you with a buddy to look after, make certain your buddy is riding with you at all times. Everyone, try to follow the GPS markers in your datareaders. As we work together, the cows will move away from us in the expected direction. We will see them safely into a new pasture."
The cows, too, were used to this sort of thing. They were the breeding stock, and had put up with tourists for most of their lives. When they saw Mais trotting over the rise with a cluster of amateur horsepeople, they started ambling eastwards.
Very. Very slowly.
They had all day, and little inclination to put a lot of effort into it.
Mais knew their tricks, and spent half his time co-ordinating the tourists. Only truly acting when one of the cows broke away from the herd.
Who knew? Some of these Spacers might think this was fun.
[1] Skitty: Gengineered ships or stations cats. Organic pest control that is still more effective than any other method.
[Photo by Jean Valjean on Unsplash]
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