Cows can fly; prevention help

[greenmojo]

Don't y'all just love crits? They do the daggonedest things.

If she escapes again, we will be eating Wagyu / Angus early this year...

 

[MacLawn]

I hear ya, greenmo! Keep'er tender!

 

[EddieWalker]

People that I know with donkeys got them to protect their goats or sheep. I guess the same thing applies to cattle. Be careful on the donkey, you want one that will bond with your animals and look out for them. Older donkeys that you can get free or cheap are usually problem ones that attack the animals they are in the pen with. Ideally you want a young one who grows up with the herd. In your case, I have my doubts that adding a donkey will make they cow happy.

Eddie

 

[greenmojo]

This is getting tough... calls into 4 different people with steers for sale, nobody returning calls.

~Moses

 

[jerrybob]

Run an electric fence line about 3 ft. inside your fence. We've done it many times......takes just a few attempts and she will stop. Good luck........

 

[Jisgren]

I would recommend a low line angus to keep her company. They are smaller cattle, very laid back, and very good beef.

Check with http://westernstateslowline.com for breeders in your area

 

[texasjohn]

you want somebody's 4h or FFA calf...one that is dog gentle and you can lead around, literally...else it, too, will sprout wings.

 

[greenmojo]

you want somebody's 4h or FFA calf...one that is dog gentle and you can lead around, literally...else it, too, will sprout wings.

That's exactly what we found! A 4H family with a few calves. Worked out great.

I couldn't find what I wanted locally so the next plan was just to find some type of companion for her, and we grabbed this little guy. So far, so good. They get a long and the heifer is much more relaxed. Actually saw her with her head down sleeping this afternoon for the first time.



jerrybob and a few others have suggested running a hot wire 3' to 4' inside the barbed wire fence to prevent her from getting close enough to jump the fence... I am going to do this tomorrow. Great idea.

So, in the end it looks like some companionship and a bit more hot wire and she'll be good for the time being. Now, how to prevent the mountain lions from snacking on a 200 pound calf. ;-)

~Moses

 

[texasjohn]

OK...now you need to teach her about range cubes...she needs to learn they are yummy, then you need to get her to eat them from your hand...hold one out pointed to her , let her smell it and then gently let her take it from your fingers. Normally, I HATE to get an animal this dog gentle...but you NEED to have that large critter this gentle. Reason..should she start flying again, she will follow you around if you have some cubes in a bucket...shake the bucket...teach her to COME to the bucket and she will get a treat...and, then, walk off and teach her to follow you, getting a treat on occasion...this way you can LEAD her back to the house as necessary.....and, should an extreme situation present itself, you can put a rope around her neck....be sure to have a place to tie the other end of the rope like a pickup bumper or STOUT fence post...That little calf is not likely to become HER lead cow....meaning that she will follow where the calf goes...maybe, but not likely....therefore, you need to plan how you will handle the larger animal NEXT TIME she wanders off....hint...once an animal learns to jump a fence, not likely to forget it, and will do it again next time a stress/ presssure situation presents itself to them. by the way...angus have a reputation for jumping fences...not all do it, but a significant percentage of them seem to be willing to roam about.

Warning...the price you pay for having a cow which will eat out of your hand is that they begin to think of you as a member of their herd....and, like any other member of their herd, they will engage in a shoving match to determine who is the dominant animal...THUS, you MUST begin to carry a STOUT stick/pipe/walking cane with you WHENEVER you are in the pasture...this will extend your arm and let you administer punishment when a shoving match starts...Note, that animal is faster and heavier than you are...so, you simply MUST be smarter than she is and be prepared to ALWAYS stop or win any confrontation.

Suggestion...since these are your first cattle in a long time, you would benefit from learning more about how to handle cattle...see if you can't find somebody with stock AND significant experience and offer to help them work their animals, on multiple occasions. There, you can see how things are done and figure out how to do things on your place. Each cow has a different personality. Be aware that how to work stock is ALL about many subtle clues you give to the animal....all these things mean something to the animal....figure out how they respond and learn instinctively how to adjust your body stance to achieve the result you want from the animal...
directly facing the animal, standing still, then talking forward, walking backward
turn side to animal, observe animal from corner of eyes while standing still, walking forward, walking backward.
Circle around behind or in front of the animal, looking at them directly, then out of corner of eyes.
Vary the distance between you and animal, learn when animal will move away from you, stand still, or perhaps move toward to you.
Be aware that the animal will choose to fight you or run from you, depending on the situation.
What the cow does with their head is VERY significant...lowered head means low concern...high head means very wary or perhaps about to run...or quickly lower and charge...

I don't usually run on like this about animal behaviour, but since you are just getting started, I don't know how much of this you are aware of and how much is yet to become second nature to you...

Wishing you all the best of luck

 

[fishheadbob]

Good point texasjohn. My cows were trained to a grain bucket; made calling them home a lot easier. All the "training" consisted of was putting today's grain in a 5 gallon pail and thumping the bucket a few times before giving them the grain. After a while they associated the thumping sound with some good eats. They would come running with drool hanging from their mouths.