I had to have back surgery on 4th of Feb. so I had to get someone to do my cotton seed twice a weekl and move in hay every 4 days. They also keep on the water tanks. Every Monday and Thursday they feed cotton. I have not been back to the pastures since Feb 3rd, my son in law feeds the cotton seed and moved the hay. It may not be a problem but my bull has stopped coming into the feed pens when he feeds the cows. The bull has refused to come into to eat. I normally let the bull come into the pen and when he does I latch the gates and herd him thru the feed pens into the corral where I feed him, I cut out his cotton and only feed him a little sweet feed. When finishes up I let him out thru the alley way to the side gate that lets him go back to pasture. The reason for doing this in the alley or chute to head gate, is where I work him when he needs working on (shots, fly drench and such.) My problem is why has he quit coming in to feed pens. I’m the only one in last couple of years that herds him thru the process to the coral. I did walk over to the corral today just to observe him physically. And no I didn’t get into the pens with the cows. I was on one side of fence and him on the other, this is what I saw. His breathing was regular, no laboring when breathing, eyes where clear and alert, no runs or appearance of stomach problems, hooves looked good. All in all looks in good shape. When I came out of pasture I watch him a while and he went to drink water and walked out of pen where water tubs are at and thru gate back to pasture and headed straight for the hay ring and stated eating hay. Now for my sake I’m trying figure out why after all this time does he decided not to come in to get his feed?
1- new people doing the feeding?
2- the last feed I bought for him from tractor supply was a more pellet type and maybe less molasses?
3- maybe in the first stages of pneumonia when they can lose appetite?
4-maybe with all the changes he just hasn’t accepted everything yet?
I lost one bull to pneumonia 2 years ago and he quit coming to the feeding. By the time I found a vet that kind could get out to pasture, he said it may be too late. It was, after vet gave shot he died about 2 hours later. I’m just trying to cover all my bases. He is one that has to be tricked into getting him into the corral and that’s why I have to trick him into the corral and force him to exit thru the side gate in my alley. He is too big for my head gate. Please give me some ideas as to what may be going on. I thank you for that.
Oh, I forgot, when it comes time for working him I add 5 more cows to the chute with him somewhere in the middle. Kinda like a traffic jam where he can’t go back or forward.
My son in law said he could feed him outside the pen but I told him no, if he don’t come in, He don’t get nothing but his hay.
Thanks
1- new people doing the feeding?
2- the last feed I bought for him from tractor supply was a more pellet type and maybe less molasses?
3- maybe in the first stages of pneumonia when they can lose appetite?
4-maybe with all the changes he just hasn’t accepted everything yet?
I lost one bull to pneumonia 2 years ago and he quit coming to the feeding. By the time I found a vet that kind could get out to pasture, he said it may be too late. It was, after vet gave shot he died about 2 hours later. I’m just trying to cover all my bases. He is one that has to be tricked into getting him into the corral and that’s why I have to trick him into the corral and force him to exit thru the side gate in my alley. He is too big for my head gate. Please give me some ideas as to what may be going on. I thank you for that.
Oh, I forgot, when it comes time for working him I add 5 more cows to the chute with him somewhere in the middle. Kinda like a traffic jam where he can’t go back or forward.
My son in law said he could feed him outside the pen but I told him no, if he don’t come in, He don’t get nothing but his hay.
Thanks
