Beef Cattle in Hokkaido Dawn Snow

Mud climbs halfway up the weathered wooden boards of a livestock pen, marking the boundary between the dry sorting rail and the wet ground. At the first light of dawn, deep shadows swallow the interior of the corral while a thin rim of pale morning light outlines the top edges of the fence. Snow falls gently through the air, creating a soft white haze that catches the rim light and turns the dust or steam hanging near the squeeze-gate chains into a shimmering curtain. Lot cards hang limp and damp from metal hooks, their paper surfaces darkened by moisture. The steel chains of the squeeze gate gleam faintly against the dark wood. A heavy cow stands still in the corner, its coat dark and wet, blending into the shadowed corner where the snow accumulates on its back.