GMN
Well-known member
I'd say the cows are a 1-2, the heifers are a 8-10, and the herd bull young one is a 3, the old guy is a 6, in saying this though any animal at anytime could be a 10 if they wanted to.
GMN
GMN
Cattle Behavior Rating Scale
- Thread starter Running Arrow Bill
- Start date
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Dave
Well-known member
Mike,
Our ex-wifes might have been first cousins. A 10 in more than one way.
Dave
Our ex-wifes might have been first cousins. A 10 in more than one way.
Dave
OP
OP
Running Arrow Bill
Well-known member
Hey Y'all! Any more comments on cattle behavior ratings on a scale between 1 and 10? Prefer serious comments; however, frivilous comments ok too...lol.
Victoria
Well-known member
OK I'll make an attempt.
1) Tame- Center of the Universe: This cow is the type that can not be moved by strangers or her owner with a sorting stick, can only be moved with grain. This cow has surpassed her owner in the hierarchy and is the boss cow. She finds no reason to listen to an inferior and although generally easy to manage can be dangerous as this is the "pet cow that turns on you". If you do something she doesn't like she may flatten you - as boss cow she has the right. This cow is typically created by an owner that does not understand the boss cow concept and herd dynamics. Lacks fear and respect.
2) Docile - Pet: This cow may or may not be able to be moved by strangers but will move for her owner as the owner is boss. Although it is generally easier to just move her with grain, takes less effort on the owners part. She is easily petted by owner and stranger and believes all people love her. This is the kind of cow that follows you on the field and isn't too nervous about new situations if people are there as she trusts them. Calf handling is easy and strangers can often handle calves as well without any stress on the cow. Lacks fear has respect.
3) Docile - Don't Trust Strangers: This cow will move from strangers or her owner although often moves better for the strangers as they are less trustful of a stranger. Can be petted by her owner but will not allow strangers to touch her. She will keep at least a few feet flight zone from those she doesn't know. Her calves can be handled easily by the owner but the cow will show varying degrees of nervousness when a stranger is there, especially stressed if the owner is not there. Lacks fear of owner - has respect and fear of strangers.
4) Docile - Alert: This cow moves from strangers or owner pretty much equally. Owner can pat but only if remains in non-threatening areas (ex. not trying to touch head or feet) and moves quiet and slow. The cow does not fully relax and remains alert to what the owner is doing at all times. She will move easily from anyone. With a stranger she will have a large flight zone. Owner will be able to ear tag calf but the cow will need to be watching and may show some signs of slight agitation (mooing, flicking of ears). She will attempt to call a calf away from a stranger. May show some aggression to a stranger such as shaking head while looking away etc. Has respect and very little fear of owner, greater fear of strangers.
5) Mediocre - Dangerous: This cow is perhaps the most dangerous of the herd. She is the most unnatural of all and is usually a product of an owner attempting to make a 7 or 8 cow into a 4 cow. Some cows respond well and become 4 or less but others (typically those with a natural bent to aggression) get stuck at 5. This is a cow who is not very afraid of the owner but neither does she find the owner especially likable (I'm not talking personality but scratching, food, what the cow gets from the owner if that makes sense). She loses respect of the owner because her personality is very similiar to number one only she is not as docile. This cow will move easily from strangers or the owner but if she doesn't want to go then she can be a real problem because she will run a person over without a second thought. Typically she can be very difficult when handling her calf as if she does not want you around her calf she will kill you without a second thought as she has very little respect or fear.
6) Alert: This cow has a flight zone of at least a few feet with everyone. Her owner can usually get closer than a stranger. She moves easily and is quite obedient generally. She does not run when you approach her but is watchful. With a calf this type will remain true to character and step back to allow her owner to handle her calf while she watches some will be more nervous than others. She has respect and a little fear.
7) Assertive: This cow has a flight zone that is usually a little higher than 6. She also moves easily. The difference between she and 6 is that 7 will become aggressive when she has a calf and will not allow the calf to be handled.
8) Frightened: This cow is scared of people and has a large flight zone. She is often unseen in a herd because whenever possible she will hide and/or run. When working cattle she is the one with her face shoved in a corner trying to get away. She may attack if she feels there is no way out. Often (not always) these cows calves can be handled as this cow will often run away to save herself giving the handler time to grab the calf.
9) Aggressive: This cow has a large flight zone. She is highly agitated in a working situation. She has fear of people but responds in fight mode rather than flight mode. She is difficult to deal with because when cornered or if she feels either her or her calf is threatened it is likely she will attack.
10) Mean - This cow will charge if you get into her comfort zone which can be anywhere from a few feet to a pasture length. She is impossible to care for and is typically on her own.
1) Tame- Center of the Universe: This cow is the type that can not be moved by strangers or her owner with a sorting stick, can only be moved with grain. This cow has surpassed her owner in the hierarchy and is the boss cow. She finds no reason to listen to an inferior and although generally easy to manage can be dangerous as this is the "pet cow that turns on you". If you do something she doesn't like she may flatten you - as boss cow she has the right. This cow is typically created by an owner that does not understand the boss cow concept and herd dynamics. Lacks fear and respect.
2) Docile - Pet: This cow may or may not be able to be moved by strangers but will move for her owner as the owner is boss. Although it is generally easier to just move her with grain, takes less effort on the owners part. She is easily petted by owner and stranger and believes all people love her. This is the kind of cow that follows you on the field and isn't too nervous about new situations if people are there as she trusts them. Calf handling is easy and strangers can often handle calves as well without any stress on the cow. Lacks fear has respect.
3) Docile - Don't Trust Strangers: This cow will move from strangers or her owner although often moves better for the strangers as they are less trustful of a stranger. Can be petted by her owner but will not allow strangers to touch her. She will keep at least a few feet flight zone from those she doesn't know. Her calves can be handled easily by the owner but the cow will show varying degrees of nervousness when a stranger is there, especially stressed if the owner is not there. Lacks fear of owner - has respect and fear of strangers.
4) Docile - Alert: This cow moves from strangers or owner pretty much equally. Owner can pat but only if remains in non-threatening areas (ex. not trying to touch head or feet) and moves quiet and slow. The cow does not fully relax and remains alert to what the owner is doing at all times. She will move easily from anyone. With a stranger she will have a large flight zone. Owner will be able to ear tag calf but the cow will need to be watching and may show some signs of slight agitation (mooing, flicking of ears). She will attempt to call a calf away from a stranger. May show some aggression to a stranger such as shaking head while looking away etc. Has respect and very little fear of owner, greater fear of strangers.
5) Mediocre - Dangerous: This cow is perhaps the most dangerous of the herd. She is the most unnatural of all and is usually a product of an owner attempting to make a 7 or 8 cow into a 4 cow. Some cows respond well and become 4 or less but others (typically those with a natural bent to aggression) get stuck at 5. This is a cow who is not very afraid of the owner but neither does she find the owner especially likable (I'm not talking personality but scratching, food, what the cow gets from the owner if that makes sense). She loses respect of the owner because her personality is very similiar to number one only she is not as docile. This cow will move easily from strangers or the owner but if she doesn't want to go then she can be a real problem because she will run a person over without a second thought. Typically she can be very difficult when handling her calf as if she does not want you around her calf she will kill you without a second thought as she has very little respect or fear.
6) Alert: This cow has a flight zone of at least a few feet with everyone. Her owner can usually get closer than a stranger. She moves easily and is quite obedient generally. She does not run when you approach her but is watchful. With a calf this type will remain true to character and step back to allow her owner to handle her calf while she watches some will be more nervous than others. She has respect and a little fear.
7) Assertive: This cow has a flight zone that is usually a little higher than 6. She also moves easily. The difference between she and 6 is that 7 will become aggressive when she has a calf and will not allow the calf to be handled.
8) Frightened: This cow is scared of people and has a large flight zone. She is often unseen in a herd because whenever possible she will hide and/or run. When working cattle she is the one with her face shoved in a corner trying to get away. She may attack if she feels there is no way out. Often (not always) these cows calves can be handled as this cow will often run away to save herself giving the handler time to grab the calf.
9) Aggressive: This cow has a large flight zone. She is highly agitated in a working situation. She has fear of people but responds in fight mode rather than flight mode. She is difficult to deal with because when cornered or if she feels either her or her calf is threatened it is likely she will attack.
10) Mean - This cow will charge if you get into her comfort zone which can be anywhere from a few feet to a pasture length. She is impossible to care for and is typically on her own.
Penridergirl
Active member
This is strictly from a feedlot standpoint:
GENTLEST:
1. Head down, snot dripping, tounge out, flanks heaving, 10 minutes to death.
2. Found looking like a 1, but when approached on horse back will prick it's ears, looks at the gate, but won't push out into the alley with one horse behind and two cowboys with ropes pulling.
3. Staggers into the hospital pens after a fifteen minute rest every thirty yards, bumps the gates a few times, might bawl when injected with medicine.
4. Too fat to really move. These cattle just want to be left alone to waddle up to the feed bunk. Cowboys lose their voices and tempers trying to move these cattle. These cattle cause cowboys to invent all kinds of new ways of cussing.
5. Raise their heads and tails or try to buck when approached by a pen rider. Will still move when hollared at; but will groan in protest and quit running after two laps around the pen.
6.Frisky in the pens, wants to bawl and butt your horse when you ride by, spooks away easily, bucks and head butts other cattle in the pens. Will go out the gate after six laps around the pen because they think that the cowboy has invented a new game.
7. May not stampede when penrider opens gates but will kink their tails and pretend they are still wild. Will run out the gate behind the pen rider when given the opportunity. May still have to be herded by two riders to get them from point "a" to point "b".
8. Still runs like a stampeding long horn when taken out of the pen. Won't look at the gate when trying to pull "sicks" and still might consider snorting and spooking at cowboys on foot.
9. One to two weeks on feed. Still running from pen riders, feed trucks, and tank washers. Runs through every mickey moused fence on the place.
10. Fresh off the truck and hunting wranglers. Heads up, snorting, and running down anything and everything that gets in the way.
GENTLEST:
1. Head down, snot dripping, tounge out, flanks heaving, 10 minutes to death.
2. Found looking like a 1, but when approached on horse back will prick it's ears, looks at the gate, but won't push out into the alley with one horse behind and two cowboys with ropes pulling.
3. Staggers into the hospital pens after a fifteen minute rest every thirty yards, bumps the gates a few times, might bawl when injected with medicine.
4. Too fat to really move. These cattle just want to be left alone to waddle up to the feed bunk. Cowboys lose their voices and tempers trying to move these cattle. These cattle cause cowboys to invent all kinds of new ways of cussing.
5. Raise their heads and tails or try to buck when approached by a pen rider. Will still move when hollared at; but will groan in protest and quit running after two laps around the pen.
6.Frisky in the pens, wants to bawl and butt your horse when you ride by, spooks away easily, bucks and head butts other cattle in the pens. Will go out the gate after six laps around the pen because they think that the cowboy has invented a new game.
7. May not stampede when penrider opens gates but will kink their tails and pretend they are still wild. Will run out the gate behind the pen rider when given the opportunity. May still have to be herded by two riders to get them from point "a" to point "b".
8. Still runs like a stampeding long horn when taken out of the pen. Won't look at the gate when trying to pull "sicks" and still might consider snorting and spooking at cowboys on foot.
9. One to two weeks on feed. Still running from pen riders, feed trucks, and tank washers. Runs through every mickey moused fence on the place.
10. Fresh off the truck and hunting wranglers. Heads up, snorting, and running down anything and everything that gets in the way.
