Bull Hates Halter

[TxCoUnTrYbOy]

Lately my brahman bull puts up a fight when I try to put his halter on. He just keeps turning and trying to get away from the halter. I dont want to get to the point where the only way to get the halter on is grab the nose ring, but is that something I should consider? With the halter on, all I do is walk him, set him up, pet and scratch him, and give him some treats, so why would he hate it so much, and what can I do so he wont hate it. When I got him, I was told that brahmans didnt like you messing with their head, but he doesnt mind if I pet his head or scratch his head, just the halter. He sees it and immediately turns the other way. Any ideas what to do?

 

[txshowmom]

Get a haulter that you don't take off.

 

[rgv4]

We use the nylon halters with the chain under the chin. Halters on the show cattle 24/7/365.

 

[TheBullLady]

I think a lot of that is a "Brahman thing". I have cows I've shown that I have to pen to put a halter on. But you can walk up to any of them loose in the pasture and do anything. I suspect it's because of they can't do as they please with a halter on.

I would do as the other posters suggested.. at least for awhile. Leave a halter on him for longer periods. He should figure out that it's not necessarily a bad thing. He won't associate the halter with going to a show and being tied.

 

[TxCoUnTrYbOy]

Doesnt the halter with a chain on it tear the skin from rubbing? Thats the reason I dont like keeping them on, but I guess I have to.

 

[TheBullLady]

TCB.. I always use the nylon halters with the loose chain hanging under the chin. When I hook the lead to the halter, I hook it into the ring below and a side ring, so it's not pulling on the chain. Brahmans have a hard time with the chain under their chins. I don't think I've ever had a Brahman that I've had to use the chain tightly on... but it's nice to have it if you need it. If it's loose on him, it won't rub.

 

[Victoria]

How long have you had him and has he always been like this with the halter for you? I ask because I was just on here a short time ago asking the same question about a heifer we bought. I figured out what the problem was though. If I took out a rope halter she would head the other direction, didn't want to have anything to do with it. So I switched to a nylon halter and she is fine with it. All I can figure is that she had a rough halterbreaking at her previous home and associates the rope halter with it. So if you have just started with your bull or have recently changed halters try a different halter. I don't know if it will help you but it worked for me so I thought I would pass it on.

 

[ollie]

Are you trying to catch him in the field? Put him in a pen or in the barn to put the halter on and don't ask him how he likes it. If need be pour a little halter take on him. I personally wouldn't be caught dead with a dairy halter on a beef animal. You might as well tie him in the show stall with ten foot of ski rope, or wear rubber boots and a rubber apron to wash him. You sound like Freddie 4H man. Cowboy up and halter him and make him do what you want. If you can't catch him in a ten foot pen put him in the chute. You are the man and him the beast. Your suspose to be smarter.

 

[TxCoUnTrYbOy]

He has always been like this, just not as bad. Once I get the halter on, he is just fine. I get him by giving him a little hay then when hes eating it out of my hand I slip the halter over his head. Same halter since the day I got him, and he wasnt halter broken when I got him.

ollie - He does do what I want, he just doesnt like having the halter put on or taken off. When its on, he is fine. He will walk, set up, get washed, anything no problem. Its just putting on and taking off that he doesnt like. If I cant get him when hes in the corral, I pen him so he cant run off. Hay is just always his weak spot, I cant get it on when he is eating hay.

 

[ollie]

He has always been like this, just not as bad. Once I get the halter on, he is just fine. I get him by giving him a little hay then when hes eating it out of my hand I slip the halter over his head. Same halter since the day I got him, and he wasnt halter broken when I got him.

ollie - He does do what I want, he just doesnt like having the halter put on or taken off. When its on, he is fine. He will walk, set up, get washed, anything no problem. Its just putting on and taking off that he doesnt like. If I cant get him when hes in the corral, I pen him so he cant run off. Hay is just always his weak spot, I cant get it on when he is eating hay.

Your bull sounds like my wifes husband. He does what my wife wants except when he wants to do something else.

 

[Victoria]

TxCoUnTrYbOy- Sounds like my suggestion is no help then. It also sounds like you are doing what you can to make the whole thing an enjoyable experience for him. Guess he just likes his freedom.

Looks to me like your only two choices are leave the halter on or wear him down by repetition. I wish you the best.

 

[Australian Cattleman]

I never have any problems. I usually leave their halters on during the show season,saves me time. If I have a few spare minutes they can get tied up without any fuss.
I breed Brahmans and South Devons and show both breeds.

Colin

 

[4-H fanatic]

Get a nyon horse halter with no chain that what i do with my animals leave it on it saves a huge amount of time trying to catch them. If he is still hard to catch i suggest tying him up for a while and let him fight it for a while.

 

[cowgirl580]

Get a nyon horse halter with no chain that what i do with my animals leave it on it saves a huge amount of time trying to catch them. If he is still hard to catch i suggest tying him up for a while and let him fight it for a while.

when he's tied up, i don't know if you've tried this yet, use an intertube to tie him too. that sucks him back when he pulls on it and won't fight as much. may not do you any good since he already does what you want, but.....

good luck!

 

[cattleluvr18]

Get a nyon horse halter with no chain that what i do with my animals leave it on it saves a huge amount of time trying to catch them. If he is still hard to catch i suggest tying him up for a while and let him fight it for a while.

what size of horse halter would you use on a 700-750 pound heifer. thats a good idea.

 

[Anonymous]

Get a nyon horse halter with no chain that what i do with my animals leave it on it saves a huge amount of time trying to catch them. If he is still hard to catch i suggest tying him up for a while and let him fight it for a while.

what size of horse halter would you use on a 700-750 pound heifer. thats a good idea.

When you look at the halters
they usaly have a tag on the inside that tells you the weight of the animal to use it on. i think i use a yearling size

 

[cattleluvr18]

thanx!! but i didnt kno if the head size would be different between a calf and a horse. my dad thought of that idea the other day and we got a large horse one. i thought it looked big but u cant convince that stubbern man :x

 

[Cheyenne]

You can buy regular nylon halters specifically for cattle. They have the ring to attach the lead to, but no chain. I purchased mine at our local farm supply store. Come in yearling and cow sizes.