Calf acts more like a dog...

[Lammie]

I bought a Simmental calf about 6 weeks ago. He was weaned when I got him, but I have been keeping in penned with two other bottle calves I have and feeding him calf starter. He's very healthy, we banded him when we got him home and I plan to put him in the freezer when he's big enough. The deal is that he's so darned friendly. He's not a big slobbery thing chasing you around the pasture head butting friendly, but rather a rub against your leg while you are feeding friendly. Loves to have his neck scratched and will stop eating and come to me so I can love on him for a while. My H says that I won't want to part with him, but I am sure that this behavior won't be so cute when he weighs 500 pounds and knocks me down to get my attention.

He's just so gentle and loving. I have never had that experience with calves before. If I could teach him to fetch, I'd never eat him! Anyone else have this experience?

 

[Victoria]

That's how all of our orphans have been. I've always taken the time to groom them with the belief that a calf who has a mother (whether human or cow) will grow better and be healthier than one who just gets milk. Study after study shows this to be correct in both the animal and human world.
One of the calves I am halter training right now (she is not an orphan) sees me come into the field gives a moo and comes right over to get her scratches. The other one that I'm training doesn't moo but she does come and loves the attention. Getting pulled around for awhile is worth the pats I guess! :lol:

 

[warpaint]

Lammie,

Gonna have to agree with your H on this. Sounds like you're attached already. Without meaning to criticize, a solution to this could be, never name a calf you intend to kill, picture all the steaks, roasts, and burger, you'll be getting everytime you are in the pen with it.

Oh, and if I do name them, it's always something like, meat, hamburger, dinner,etc. ;-)

 

[Lammie]

Warpaint, when I scratch him I am saying things like, "You're gonna be so tasty, yes you are!!" I know that God gave us these creatures to eat and milk. I did name all three of them, but I named some of my chickens, too! There's Sideways, The Aunties, Mama, the Ya Ya Sisters, Bob and Elvis...

Anyway, my thinking is that if he's always this calm he'll have good, tender meat on his little bones. I just think it is unusual. He's just a steer, though.

 

[Gliderider]

My two 6 month old bottle fed calves do the same thing. One more than the other. He loves to be scratched and petted. Their names are T-bone and Ribeye. :D They answer when I call, and then come running....well not so much running as walking faster than normal. They are both going to sale in April, I think I will probably miss them. But then again with the money we make from then we are buying our bull. So see ya on the dinner plate! :o

 

[Rookie]

Ya best be takin care. Those "pup-friendly" calves are the ones that wind up puttin a hurt on ya, without even meanin to. And he will be big enough ta hurt someone long before he be ready for freezin.Had a 600# stein that had that habit of rubbin against ya leg. One night he got a horn hung in my belt and threw me haf way cross the pen.

george

 

[Farmhand]

All of my bucket calves end up that way. I, too, spend a lot of time scratching and rubbing on them. It does seem to keep them calmer the rest of their lives. I also remember to always leave myself an out as they get older. I have a holstein steer right now that doesn't realize he isn't a baby anymore. We burn the buds when they are little so I don't have too many horns to worry about but their size is enough of a problem. I never turn my back on them when in the pen. I have the problem of getting attached to animals and it doesn't matter if they are tame or not. If they come onto the place, I have trouble with them leaving. I know why they're here but it's just easier to let hubby take them out when I'm not here. Have no problem with putting them on my plate though. :D

 

[Rookie]

If they come onto the place, I have trouble with them leaving. I know why they're here but it's just easier to let hubby take them out when I'm not here. Have no problem with putting them on my plate though. :D

bottle babies do be hard ta part with. My wife be the same way. Heck, it be not so easy for me ta haul mine sometimes. My better half always leaves early to points unknown on haulin day :D

 

[Beef11]

One night he got a horn hung in my belt and threw me haf way cross the pen.

What was a 600# stein doing with a horn?

 

[Rookie]

One night he got a horn hung in my belt and threw me haf way cross the pen.

What was a 600# stein doing with a horn?

wearin it stickin out the side of his head.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

One night he got a horn hung in my belt and threw me haf way cross the pen.

What was a 600# stein doing with a horn?

wearin it stickin out the side of his head.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[cherokeeruby]

I bought a Simmental calf about 6 weeks ago. He was weaned when I got him, but I have been keeping in penned with two other bottle calves I have and feeding him calf starter. He's very healthy, we banded him when we got him home and I plan to put him in the freezer when he's big enough. The deal is that he's so darned friendly. He's not a big slobbery thing chasing you around the pasture head butting friendly, but rather a rub against your leg while you are feeding friendly. Loves to have his neck scratched and will stop eating and come to me so I can love on him for a while. My H says that I won't want to part with him, but I am sure that this behavior won't be so cute when he weighs 500 pounds and knocks me down to get my attention.

He's just so gentle and loving. I have never had that experience with calves before. If I could teach him to fetch, I'd never eat him! Anyone else have this experience?

Brahman calves often act like your calf, even when they are being nursed by their dam. One of the many reasons Brahman breeders are so in love with their animals.

 

[Anonymous]

Lammie,

Oh, and if I do name them, it's always something like, meat, hamburger, dinner,etc. ;-)

Best name I heard was "Your Next" :D :D

 

[scoot129]

we also raise alot of bottle babies every year and i name them all. my husband will say a number and i'll be like you mean toby. while there on my farm they have a great home. The one thing i would say is don't let them start rubbing on you, that is the start of them thinking there the boss. you don't want them to do that when there 500lbs.

http://spaces.msn.com/members/lonetreefarms/

 

[TheBullLady]

Disposition is very important to me.. all of my Brahmans are affectionate and can be handled easily, or I don't keep them. The Simmentals seem to have a more docile disposition routinely, so even though I can't necessarily scratch all of them, they are easy to handle.

It is hard to part with them, but if you know you're going to put him in the freezer, it makes it easier. I have a harder time losing a good heifer or cow.

 

[Rod]

I kept a heifer bottle baby, big mistake, she doesnt know her own size now and still likes to lean on me occasionly. She to this day thinks whatever is in my hand is for her.

 

[preston39]

Lammie,
If he is designated for the freezer...trade off with a friend and have him raise the animal.

The real friendly type can ruin a good steak/burger. :(

 

[backhoeboogie]

Lammie,
If he is designated for the freezer...trade off with a friend and have him raise the animal.

The real friendly type can ruin a good steak/burger. :(

The meat is awesome. I look at my next one daily and I'm thinking, I can't wait to get it in the freezer. His name is Johnny (originally thinking CASH) but decided he's the one going in the freezer. Rib Eye is going to the sale instead. I wouldn't take a chance of letting someone else feed Johnny out. I want him finished just so. Can't wait.

All my cows have names and some of them can't be recanted in this forum. Names like, "The black one" doesn't work when there are now many of those.

 

[Lammie]

we also raise alot of bottle babies every year and i name them all. my husband will say a number and i'll be like you mean toby. while there on my farm they have a great home. The one thing i would say is don't let them start rubbing on you, that is the start of them thinking there the boss. you don't want them to do that when there 500lbs.

http://spaces.msn.com/members/lonetreefarms/

I know what you mean! July was rubbing on me this morning and he bent my knee backwards. Not to mention stepping on my feet. He does this while I am bottle feeding the other two so I have to run one out of the pen, feed it and then run him out and feed the other so that I can scratch July with my free hand, when I have one! Everyone is almost weaned now.

 

[scoot129]

Yes I made the mistake of having a baby do what ever he wanted too, you learn quick. Our dary bulls that we raise are custom for the amish in our area. They will give us like 5 or six a year (each person) to raise, then they pick the one they want. They like how iIwork with them but as everyone knows you still can never trust them.

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