Bull attitude?

[tom4018]

I bought a bull earlier in the year. I thought his temperament was about average. He was with the main herd for a couple weeks then I pulled him out and put him with 3 fall calving cows. I try to avoid calves in the worst of winter.

He took a drastic change in attitude. Very vocal, more ground pawing and acting like he would test you. Has anyone seen a bull change attitude this much before? Only been doing this for 25 plus years and never had one like this. Been pretty picky on their attitude when buying. He has changed a lot. Hoping he calms down when he gets back with the herd here in a month.

 

[SBMF 2015]

How old is he? It seems like when they hit 2 they tend to see who's in charge. At 2 I can usually still convince them that I'm bigger and get the problem corrected. Then it seems like I'm good to go until around 6. I usually don't keep a bull past 5 but the few that I have usually go one of two ways. They're big and easy going almost lazy to work with or they've figured out that they really are in charge, tear up stuff and are hard to work.
The bull that threw me into the block wall last month had never had a person put him in his place when he was younger and still manageable.

If they're going to get an attitude it's usually when they're in with the cows and working. I try not to mess with them too much during breeding season.

 

[M.Magis]

How close is he to the other cows? Are some coming back in heat?

 

[Brute 23]

I buy most the bulls retty young. When they get that 2-3 age and start looking like big bulls they can get a little more attitude on them.

I also think they get more onory in pens like that.

 

[tom4018]

How old is he? It seems like when they hit 2 they tend to see who's in charge. At 2 I can usually still convince them that I'm bigger and get the problem corrected. Then it seems like I'm good to go until around 6. I usually don't keep a bull past 5 but the few that I have usually go one of two ways. They're big and easy going almost lazy to work with or they've figured out that they really are in charge, tear up stuff and are hard to work.
The bull that threw me into the block wall last month had never had a person put him in his place when he was younger and still manageable.

If they're going to get an attitude it's usually when they're in with the cows and working. I try not to mess with them too much during breeding season.

I will have to double check but about 20 months now.

 

[tom4018]

How close is he to the other cows? Are some coming back in heat?

They are in the adjoining pasture. So right across the fence.

 

[gcreekrch]

Sounds like he is being a bull to me. ALWAYS be the dominant one when handling bulls. Ours are not pets and having 30 of them in a pen can be concerning but when I raise my voice or a couple who want to scrap get hot shotted of broadsided with a quad they know who is top dog. I also prefer to handle bulls at bse time or any time we have to sort completely by myself. That way they move off me and not over me keeping away from another human.

 

[W.B.]

Not much different here. I used to have a dog that thought it was his job to exert dominance over the bull pen. He was too valuable to let him do it very often. My current dog is a whole lot less valuable but more expendable. They learn pretty quick when they see me and the dog it's time to go where we ask.

 

[Warren Allison]

They are in the adjoining pasture. So right across the fence.

Well, there ya go!

 

[Nick Wagner]

I bought a bull earlier in the year. I thought his temperament was about average. He was with the main herd for a couple weeks then I pulled him out and put him with 3 fall calving cows. I try to avoid calves in the worst of winter.

He took a drastic change in attitude. Very vocal, more ground pawing and acting like he would test you. Has anyone seen a bull change attitude this much before? Only been doing this for 25 plus years and never had one like this. Been pretty picky on their attitude when buying. He has changed a lot. Hoping he calms down when he gets back with the herd here in a month.

Too many variables to mention, among them genetics and training, but it would be a shame to hear of a cattleman from Kentucky was injured or killed by a bull, especially a newcomer with only 25 years experience. New bulls are born every day.

 

[Dave]

I had a 3 year old bull go from just a normal bull to flat out scary over night. I worked for a rodeo contractor and handled lots of bull. But when I got this one on the trailer and the door shut I realized I was shaking. I had bought this top quality AI sired bull out of a pen of 5. A year later I was at the sale. A man who I knew had bought one of the other bulls out of that group backed in. He warned them very loudly to not have anyone standing around in the alley when he opened the trailer door. I am guessing genetics had something to do with it.

 

[A.J.]

Their attitude can definitely change when they get separated from their herd. If he doesn't mellow out once he's back with the cows I would send him down the road. Too many good bulls out there that will do their job and still respect your space. Not worth taking a chance on you or someone else getting hurt or worse. Any bull can turn on you, but I don't want one I have to be on high alert all the time for if I'm in the field near them.

 

[Travlr]

Docility is recognized as one of the most heritable traits in cattle. Pay attention to the numbers they assign for docility...

 

[CowboyRam]

I bought a bull last year. I met the breeder in Sundance Wyoming, wrote out a check and then stepped up on the trailer to look at what I had just bought. The bull went nuts in there. I figured he would settle down after getting him home, turned him out in the corral, the next day I went out to brand him. He acted like he wanted to take me. At the time my 88 year old father liked to help, and I could not take a chance with him getting hurt because of that bull. I called the breeder, and took him back. I was not going to have a bull around like that. I had a buddy help me load him, even his dogs didn't want to go in the corral with him. I backed up to the breeders trailer and that bull walked into his trailer like he knew he was going home.

My opinion is that if a bull is acting aggressive it is time for a trailer ride to the sale barn. Not worth getting hurt over.

 

[W.B.]

I think the op was concerned about the bull bellowing and pawing the ground. All normal bull stuff if their hormones are right. I am more concerned about a bull that doesn't exhibit these behaviors. No a bull that is aggressive towards humans horses or dogs is not tolerated here and is a guaranteed ticket to town.

 

[Brute 23]

Every one needs to have animals they are comfortable with.

Me personally, I like a bull with a little passion as long as it doesn't cross over in to being a PIA and creating more work for me. It's a fine line.

 

[TCRanch]

Re-reading the posts and your answers, I think he's probably just being a bull. But that doesn't matter. The point is, you're concerned enough about his behavior to bring it up. Trust your gut! Because none of us are there, seeing what you're seeing and feeling what you're feeling. If you've been doing this for 25 years, your "red flag warning" should be on point.

Maybe talk to the breeder? He may work with you to either switch him out or sell you another one at a discount.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

My husband raised Beefmasters. He kept 5 or 6 bulls in the bull pasture when they were not working and they settled their differences among themselves. He would (warily) go out there and pour them cubes without any signs of human aggression. He would turn 2 bulls in with a pasture of cows at a time in case one of them was shooting blanks. Usually a younger bull with an older bull. He would go out and check them on horseback or the tractor. One time one bull trying to get away from the other bull slammed into the tractor. The John Deer 40/20 rocked like a boat. The worst cattle aggression he had putting him over the corral fence was certain cows and their weaned calves. Bred that out of the herd right quick.

 

[Warren Allison]

I bought a bull earlier in the year. I thought his temperament was about average. He was with the main herd for a couple weeks then I pulled him out and put him with 3 fall calving cows. I try to avoid calves in the worst of winter.

He took a drastic change in attitude. Very vocal, more ground pawing and acting like he would test you. Has anyone seen a bull change attitude this much before? Only been doing this for 25 plus years and never had one like this. Been pretty picky on their attitude when buying. He has changed a lot. Hoping he calms down when he gets back with the herd here in a month.

So you put a bull in a herd of cows for just 2 weeks ( no way they could have all been bred) . What would be unusual or abnormal behavior, would be for him to not be "Very vocal, more ground pawing and acting like he would test you".

 

[Chuckie]

I have had cows and bulls that were over protective. More cows than bulls. If a cow started pawing and swinging her head, I would get a big limb and start walking towards her very fast then send what ever I had in my hand at her and that always has made them run other way. Then the next time I went in the pasture, I would find the same cow and walk to her briskly and throw something at her again. If I had to do it a few times, I had to show her who was the lead in the pasture and it was me. When you hunt her down first, then she wants nothing to do with you.
If she is a really good cow, then it is worth it. But if she is narrow and a hard keeper, low to middle calves, she is gone as well.
I think when you are the aggressor, and head towards them before they come to you, they leave.

Bulls that have been slightly showing aggression, it worked as well. But if I had one that was more protective, I would ride my 4 wheeler to him and waving and yelling at him. Get off the 4 wheeler but stay close and keep waving a stick that is taller than him. If you are above his head with a pole, I think the height thing works. Get a shovel handle and hurl it at him and make him keep moving.
If it takes a few times, it works, as they are not sure who is lead in the field. It is nature. If you don't establish who is boss, then they can hurt you when you really have to work with them. I know people get killed by cattle. But they will try you if they are protective which is actually a good thing for the herd if you are in an area of predators. His brain tells him to protect the herd. I had one bull that would run across the pasture if the neighbor dogs came in. Then some of the cows follow and the calves too. They all learn how to protect the herd from the strong minded ones. That is just how I see it. I like it when my cattle are protective.

If this is a really good bull, he gets to stay, but if he is a crap bull, I would send him to the sale barn.

Yeah, I am nuts. But this has always worked for me.