Question: . . . . We have three pens of calves, 100 head, any where from 450-600 lb. heifers. We have had them all about the same length of time 3-4 weeks. We have taken them for a couple walks in the 115 acre pasture. The question is, can we combine all the calves and take them all for a walk at the same time and then randomly divide them back into 3 pens? I heard some where they may develope pen mates? Is there any truth to that? Is there any harm in doing that? Would you guys ever do that?
Answer:    The calves will definitely have pen mates.  This is one of the reasons Bud was against having a sick  pen because a sick calf certainly didn’t need the upheaval of being pulled away from his friends and put in with strangers.  As far as asking if this will hurt healthy calves, I doubt if it will.  Especially, if by doing it this way you will take them for a walk more often.   If they are working well for you when you bring them back to the pens, they will probably stick together and end up in the same pen anyway.