dlwardell
Member
I have heard that teaching a steer to walk by dragging them behind a ATV or tractor is the way to go AND the worst thing you can do - anybody have thoughts or opinions??
I agree that traditional methods are best, but we have drug as before - has never caused bodily harm to an animal but definetly does not get them to trust you.CPL":1mt8xsp5 said:I think you have to look at the big picture.
If you are a MAJOR operation with 75-200 calves to break, are you really going to have enough time for the one on one it takes to break a calf the "gentle" way?
If you have 3 or 4 calves, I think it'd be best to use traditional methods (leading to water/feed, leaving halter on for a week, etc).
*Cowgirl*":dzt7x7io said:but definetly does not get them to trust you.CPL":dzt7x7io said:I think you have to look at the big picture.
If you are a MAJOR operation with 75-200 calves to break, are you really going to have enough time for the one on one it takes to break a calf the "gentle" way?
If you have 3 or 4 calves, I think it'd be best to use traditional methods (leading to water/feed, leaving halter on for a week, etc).
CPL":2l7xrypn said:If you are a MAJOR operation with 75-200 calves to break, are you really going to have enough time for the one on one it takes to break a calf the "gentle" way?
milkmaid":3vu39v1y said:CPL":3vu39v1y said:If you are a MAJOR operation with 75-200 calves to break, are you really going to have enough time for the one on one it takes to break a calf the "gentle" way?
If a person has that many to break, are they really going to have time to individually drag each animal with the tractor every day?
CPL":33w8113a said:milkmaid":33w8113a said:CPL":33w8113a said:If you are a MAJOR operation with 75-200 calves to break, are you really going to have enough time for the one on one it takes to break a calf the "gentle" way?
If a person has that many to break, are they really going to have time to individually drag each animal with the tractor every day?
Alot of your bigger name farms have multiple Farm Hands and tractors. I see it easily do-able.
dlwardell":1r20m8iv said:I have heard that teaching a steer to walk by dragging them behind a ATV or tractor is the way to go AND the worst thing you can do - anybody have thoughts or opinions??
AAOK":vkaobhg3 said:A good cattleman will NEVER DRAG a calf behind a powered vehicle, no matter how many he needs to break.
Colorado2008":1pgfn2du said:I agree with both of these posts. Do not drag them. If they are really hard to get to lead, buy a Big Jims Breaking halter. They say for breaking but it works to get a stubborn one to lead as well.
Daisy452":3648poy8 said:Colorado2008":3648poy8 said:I agree with both of these posts. Do not drag them. If they are really hard to get to lead, buy a Big Jims Breaking halter. They say for breaking but it works to get a stubborn one to lead as well.
What is that halter? Is it one like a chain halter and where do you find one?
Colorado2008":qh0cgj1h said:Daisy452":qh0cgj1h said:Colorado2008":qh0cgj1h said:I agree with both of these posts. Do not drag them. If they are really hard to get to lead, buy a Big Jims Breaking halter. They say for breaking but it works to get a stubborn one to lead as well.
What is that halter? Is it one like a chain halter and where do you find one?
It is basically a metal halter. The nose piece is rolled steel (i guess that's what you'd call it) and the part that goes around the ears is chain. If it sounds harsh, you are right it is. But, the nose piece is made to attach a lead to the top of it and when you pull it puts a lot of pressure behind the ears and under the chin. Once they step forward it takes all that pressure off, more so than a rope halter with a ring in it would. You can buy them at Sullivans.
George Monk":267ddvkl said:We have been very successful breaking calves to lead using a tractor. NEVER do we DRAG a calf. We generally have them green broke to leading. We use two ropes one is tied to the tractor (with a slip knot) and the other is held by someone acting like they are leading. We go at idle speed in the lowest gear possible and then work up to a slow walking pace. AGAIN NEVER do we DRAG the animal. If they balk we just let them lean against the rope until THEY step forward. The person on the ground will hold their head up work their feet also.
We have had very gentle calves using this method. We have broken 1200+ animals to lead doing it this way. They get used to noise at the same time (rev the tractor and even take off the muffler once in awhile)
For the record we break our calves at weaning now but also use this method if we have a stubborn calf.
George