Cattle behavior :)

[Cindyjo2006]

Afternoon!

I have an 8 month old miniature cow, her name is Annabelle. She is a really sweet cow. I am new to cattle per se, and I am still learning. One thing she has started to do when I try to lead her to where I want her to go is try to take off as if in a run, or jump up in the air, twist around, kind of buck and possibly rear. One time, we accidentally crossed paths during this time, and she got me right in the gut with her head (I don't think it was on purpose, but it happened so fast I am not sure). Most times she is so sweet, not jumpy, or skittish, I can muck out her stall with her in it, she never kicks, she eats well, she is in a small barn with 5 goats and a rooster who is ornery, and they all get along famously. I just have NO IDEA why she does this when I am trying to walk her on a lead. I am not scared of her, but I also don't want to get ran over. I have tried to hold the lead right up near her halter, and she still does this where she tries to run off, and jump around. Help??? :help:

 

[Bigfoot]

If she is in a stall for any period of time, when you get her out, she'll probably be foolish for a while.

 

[Cindyjo2006]

She does it when I take her out of her stall, and then she does it after she has been out grazing all day. I just cannot figure it out. At first, I thought, well maybe she is just excited or happy, but dang...!!! She is almost acting scared or spooked but its broad daylight, nothing to be afraid of, and now I am thinking she is just being ORNERY

 

[M5farm]

She just feels good when she is doing this. It's not uncommon for them to jump and buck when you turn them in a new pasture.

 

[Nesikep]

Look at getting a "Control halter", hamilton halter makes them, there's a chain that goes under the chin, if you hook your lead to it it'll be uncomfortable to pull.. Also, perhaps when you let her out, have her tied to something solid so she learns that as soon as she's let out she isn't given 'carte blanche' to do anything she pleases.. once she settles down, untie her and continue leading her. They do like to go for a good romp and kick up their heels when the boredom of the stall (or corral) is finally over.

 

[Son of Butch]

Afternoon!
I have an 8 month old miniature cow, her name is Annabelle. She is a really sweet cow. One thing she has started to do when I try to lead her to where I want her to go is try to take off as if in a run, or jump up in the air, twist around, kind of buck and possibly rear.

8 months old...she's just a calf feeling her oats.
It's what they like to do, run and kick up their heels especially whenever they are first released from a stall.
Annabelle means no harm, she's just expressing the joy of life out in the fresh air.
IF you have room and can afford it, I'd suggest getting her a bovine pal.
Animals have emotions and cows enjoy being part of a herd it calms them and they always seem do better in pairs than as a single.
As for teaching her to lead, Nesi just gave you very good advice. tie her to something solid to take the fight out of her and then work with her after she has calmed down.

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

one piece of advice; NEVER let her go when she does it! Once she learns she can get lose, you will never be able to hold her!

 

[chippie]

Have you taught her to stand tied? That will help with her leading. And I agree with Fire Sweep. Do not let her get away from you. It only teaches her that she is stronger than you and will create problems in the long run. Don't feel bad about snatching her hard when she tries to take off. Now is the time to teach her to respect you, because even though she is a miniature, she can end up seriously hurting you.
You really shouldn't treat cattle like a pet (such as a dog). Discipline is important. Because without discipline, she will not respect you. I am not saying that you need to beat her, but don't feel bad about getting after her should she misbehave. You can't hurt her. Think about how hard calves hit each other when they play or are mad. I am saying this because I went through this with my first heifer 35 years ago. I played with her, let her get away with stuff (taking off like you described). I ended up having to sell her because she became dangerous to be around. All due to me trying to be her friend and treating her like a pet.
I'm sorry this is so long, and good luck with your heifer.

 

[Luca Brasi]

Reread what chippie posted. And then reread it again. And again. Change your mentality toward this animal. It is not a puppy to be walked on a leash. It is not a substitute child. It is not "sweet". It is not "ornery". It is a cow. It behaves like cattle behave. Learn how that is, and how to appropriately address it, which means having a completely different outlook towards it.

 

[Cindyjo2006]

Thank you all SO MUCH. She has never gotten away from me ever. Her being a miniature she doesnt even reach my waist and she may try but I have been strong enough to not let go. I will then reprimand her with a short yank on the lead rope and a stern no. But then she gives me a cow kiss. I know she will be too big as a pet some day, she will eventually be around 40 inches at the tallest but right now I am trying to teach her to lead walk without getting jumpy. She is still a baby at 8 months old. I will be doing everything you all have mentioned here. You are a wealth of knowledge. My neighbor across the field has 200 head of cattle and he told me the same thing when I first got her. Remember Cindy, she will be bigger someday, she may accidentally hurt you and not mean to!

 

[chippie]

Please doo not let her get close to your face. Cows see differently than people and she can see something, swing her head and hit you smack dab in the face.
Even at 40 inches tall, she will weigh quite a bit. Many mature cows will weigh well over 600 lbs.
Teach her to stand tied. It is one of the one useful things for her to know.

 

[Luca Brasi]

Her being a miniature

I will then reprimand her with...... a stern no.

But then she gives me a cow kiss.

I know she will be too big as a pet some day

I am trying to teach her to lead walk without getting jumpy.

She is still a baby at 8 months old.

And be sure to program the wise neighbor's number into your cell phone. You might need someone someday who is close by and can get there quicker than the ambulance.

 

[Cindyjo2006]

I understand the danger associated with her, even though she is smaller, someday she will be a bit bigger. I am not someone who could afford a cattle ranch, as much as I love cows. I never received any inheritance as in a farm from family (as how it is mostly around where I live, handed down through the generations), I have never been a "farmer" before in my life, but I have a love for the animals, and my favorite is a cow. I have always wanted a cow, and I am 44 years old, BUT, considering I don't have the income to purchase the acreage required for pasture, I have started my own small farm here on the 1.6 acres I do own. It is the only way I could ever accomplish my goals. We have 5 registered fainting goats, 17 chickens, one pig named Elmer, a great Pyrenees named Zeus who watches out for the coyotes, Mary Molly the golden retriever, Oscar the mutt, Johnny Cash, A Boy Named Sue, and Gretle (the cats), and of course, my prized possession, Miss Annabelle the miniature cow. Do I consider her a pet, yes, to a certain point, but I am also very aware of what she is, an animal. So far, in the 3 months I have had her, she has never gotten ornery other than what I have described above. She is probably the cleanest cow you will ever see, because she is the only cow we have!! Her stall gets mucked out every day, she always has whatever she needs, she is well fed, and yes, she goes on walks, and gets to graze all day and has 200 cows next door she can moo to at any time she decides she wants to (they are full sized regular cows). Right now, her back doesn't even come up to my waist, she is small, because she is a miniature. Basically, it has been my dream to own a cow, so right now, I am learning, researching, studying, and relying on my neighbor for his wise advice, which I take very seriously. He has been absolutely wonderful, and his daughter is my daughter's best friend and we all go way back. I thank you ALL for your comments, I just needed reassurance as right now, I am trying to study and learn her behavior patterns. I see my neighbor's cows, went and saw the new babies last night, and then I look at Annabelle, and think, wow, his cows are HUGE haha!! Take care all, thank you very much, and I hope you all have a wonderful New Year.

 

[M5farm]

cindyjo2006,

The caution that everyone is expressing comes from seeing bad things happen to people that don't have the experience with animals of this size . there are a lot of people on here that treat their cows as pets and the danger has been expressed to them also. I personally do not make pets of mine, I do however want them to not be afraid of me and we all have an understanding of what is to close for comfort. continue to study and learn, There is a lot of good information on this site. Be safe and Happy NEW YEAR!

 

[Cindyjo2006]

Oh, she still makes me nervous, that caution is always there, because I have seen what they can do, that's for sure! Everything I do with her makes me think inside, as to what could happen, where I should be standing, should I even do this or that. There is DEFINITELY a lot of good on this site, and that is why I bit the bullet and asked. I know they aren't pets for most people, actually is it a living for most people. Man, I wish I had the means to do it that way. As a matter of fact, when I went to visit the babies next door last night, those big mommas, wow, now that is really nerve wrecking! I asked them, now, is there anything I shouldn't do, are you sure they wont run after me We have had horses before, but never cows, so there is always something to learn, and that is why I joined this site, because I figure no matter the experience, there is always something I need to learn! You all have a wonderful New Years too!!!

 

[Luca Brasi]

Excuse my scepticism, and I'm really not trying to be nasty here, but despite that you claim to understand the difference, I see red flags throughout your posts which scream out that your mentality toward this animal is a recipe for disappointment if not disaster. I've seen it a hundred times. My concern is more for the animal and what eventually becomes of it in situations like this, as I've learned that one cannot save a person from himself, and I'm no longer interested in trying. I'm tired of seeing good animals which otherwise had potential get shipped early, or eventually placed in a situation which really gives them the shock of their life when they experience heavy handed handling techniques required to manage them safely and/or new herdmates which teach them these lessons the hard way because they haven't learned how to behave properly in the first place. I know, you're thinking that's not you, but that's what they all say.
Simply put, cattle are not pets in the practical sense of the word, no matter how tame you make them. There is a major difference between a seasoned cattleman making a "pet" out of a favorite cow and someone trying it who only has experience with raising children or other common household pets such as puppies and kitties. The two examples are worlds apart. One can be done, the other rarely. That you have fainting goats and a so-called "miniature" cow, (a heifer actually), are telling of your naivete in this area. That's a whole other subject that I'd be willing to go into in another thread if interested, but the short of it is unless this is a Lowline Angus, Zebu, Dexter or Miniature Hereford, it is not a miniature anything, it is a grade or a naturally small individual at or below the average for it's breed.

 

[Nesikep]

Cows are social animals... and there's always a boss cow.. in your case, YOU have to be the boss cow and let her know what goes and what doesn't.. like misbehaving on the halter when you're trying to lead her. She's young enough to learn now. just have her tied to something solid when you let her go so she can go 20 feet and then hit the end of the line.. I should also say that you want a knot that will be easy to untie while under full load and after, or have a sharp knife in case of an emergency (she tangles herself up badly)
I have full size cows and I have a bunch I consider pets, and then some that are tame, but there's something about them that my mind is telling me to not go too far with my trust. The real pets are all halterbroke, and I can usually lead them with 2 fingers holding onto the side of their halter.

I had one cow (a pet) who I could swear would deliberately step on my feet.. One day at feeding time she did it, and I wound up and gave her a punch in the side of the snout with everything I had.. she got off my foot and in the 15 years I had her since I think only stepped on me once (a real accident I guess there).
You need to offer the carrot for the good behavior, but don't be afraid to use the stick when she misbehaves.

 

[VCC]

With show calves, you have a show stick it is not only used to set their feet and scratch them; the handle end makes a good attitude adjuster when they get a little uppity. A quick tag to the nose will get their attention. Since you are not showing her a 2 foot piece of ½ PVC works just as well, if she starts jumping around or crowding you, just give her a quick tap (sometimes the tap needs to be a little firmer the first few times) to the nose. After a few taps over time, all you need to do is but the PVC up to her nose where she can see it she should settle right down. You should not need to tap her too often, she should figure it out fairly quickly, can’t stand it when you see a kid walking their calf and taping its nose, what seems like every step.
I also agree with once you first catch her, tie her for about 10 to 15 minutes and let her jump around and pull on the rail instead of you, once she settles down then lead her.