Hair Whorls

[Bestoutwest]

I was reading my Temple Grandin book last night and there was a section on hair whorls and how the location may be an indicator of the animal's temprament. Do you guys see this a lot, and how much does it influence your opinion on an animal when thinking about purchase it/using it as a sire/dam?

 

[dun]

That's been around for years. Just for laughs I looked at the Holsteins coming through a couple of dozen dairys when I was the milk tester. I was never able to see a differnce. But she knows more then anyone, she even says there is no place for a herding dog in a dairy.

 

[cow pollinater]

I use the hair to judge disposition all the time. If I can't get close enough to see it, it's a good indication that she's a little flighty. If I can get a good look at it then she's got a decent temper. If I get a close up view then she probably has a bad disposition. :lol:
I can think of about fifty different things that I would look for in a potential addition to the herd including their actual disposition before I'd start looking at how they wear their hair.

 

[regolith]

I use the hair to judge disposition all the time. If I can't get close enough to see it, it's a good indication that she's a little flighty. If I can get a good look at it then she's got a decent temper. If I get a close up view then she probably has a bad disposition. :lol:
I can think of about fifty different things that I would look for in a potential addition to the herd including their actual disposition before I'd start looking at how they wear their hair.

If my heifer 95 is any evidence, attempting to climb the rails when she's worked as a calf is a pretty good indication she'll do the same as an adult.

Heard a guy talking about these hair whorls and stuff, he liked to see ripples along their side that he called 'happy lines'.
Looked to me like fat ripples. I doubt you'd see them in anything that wasn't slightly above optimal condition score.

 

[whitecow]

A few years ago I had the pleasure of escorting Dr. Grandin across TX to see a large number of clones (cattle, horses and pigs) for her assessment of the well being of clones. She spent a great deal of time examining the differences in whorls from one clone to another. In one instance, we looked at 14 identical (almost?) clone heifers that displayed 5 different kinds of whorls but showed no difference in disposition.

 

[Aaron]

If they have a flight zone of more than 30 feet as a calf or 10-15 feet as a cow, they don't stick around here very long.

 

[KNERSIE]

I wonder how many cattle has Temple Grandin actually worked herself....

I look at whorls out of curiosity when I get one more flightly than usual, but I cannot objectively say I see a clear pattern, but if I want to see a pattern the higher the whorl the flightier the animal.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I wonder how many cattle has Temple Grandin actually worked herself....

I look at whorls out of curiosity when I get one more flightly than usual, but I cannot objectively say I see a clear pattern, but if I want to see a pattern the higher the whorl the flightier the animal.

I would like to see Grandin try to do a close inspection of my Tigers, they can make hair whirl if you don't know what your doing.
Stranger walk in that pen and dog gentle goes to eat you mode.
You can end up with that whorl in your back pocket to look at when you get home.
I have read some of that stuff and am totally convinced it is registered :bs:

 

[CKC1586]

The eyes and that head up and nose poking in the wind to get a whiff of me tells me to back off..... The girls with new babies demonstrate this well.

 

[3waycross]

Had a cow with some whorls all over her face. Her first calf(a bull) had the same thing. He was OK all winter while we were feeding the young bulls out in the pasture, but the day we tried to bring them in for a PAP test and BSE about 2 weeks before the sale he went plumb nuts and tore the side out of the old corral were were using. I shipped his momma and little sister the next friday and shipped him a month later when we finally rooted him out of the river bottom.

 

[greybeard]

Seen the 'happy line' thing too. Looks to me like one that has been over condition, then loses a little fat and the wrinkles show up--stretch marks sort of.

If they have a flight zone of more than 30 feet as a calf or 10-15 feet as a cow, they don't stick around here very long.

Them kind is a royal pain in the butt, and they are usually the ones that take off right as they and the rest of the bunch reach the pen gate. I'm convinced it's hereditary too--like momma--like calf, long after they're weaned. Might be a learned response from momma, but I just don't think so. A shame too, some of mine like that were really good cows other than being Krazy Kow.

Whorls--I've seen them, but don't know anything about that. When humans have it, we call it a cow lick--wonder if..........never mind..

 

[JWBrahman]

I would like to see Grandin try to do a close inspection of my Tigers, they can make hair whirl if you don't know what your doing.
Stranger walk in that pen and dog gentle goes to eat you mode.
You can end up with that whorl in your back pocket to look at when you get home.
I have read some of that stuff and am totally convinced it is registered :bs:[/quote]

You are a tougher man than me, CB. My wife had one of her books and after plowing thru a few pages I was convinced her narrative style is similar to listening to one of the drunks talking philosophy in the New Orleans French Quarter. Had me wondering when she was going to get to the point, or if there even was a point to the book.

My Brahman are like your Tigers. My wife can ride 'em, sit on 'em, and she makes them wear hats and sunglasses to take their photos. If a strange dog or person shows up in the pasture they will get the business end of a horn.

 

[JWBrahman]

If they have a flight zone of more than 30 feet as a calf or 10-15 feet as a cow, they don't stick around here very long.

You should see the cattle around here when they hear a cattle trailer. :lol2:

 

[greybeard]

My Brahman are like your Tigers. My wife can ride 'em, sit on 'em, and she makes them wear hats and sunglasses to take their photos.

We need to see some of those pics JW.
(where do ya get a pair of Raybans wide enough to fit a brahma?)

 

[JWBrahman]

I took this one Sunday when I came home for lunch. The day before my wife said she wanted one of the lady hats from the feed store when they go one sale. I knew she wanted it to put on the horses and Brahman for photo shoots. She usually balances the sunglasses on their noses. If she is in the mood she will occasionally get a scarf and put it around the neck. :lol2:

 

[CKC1586]

I took this one Sunday when I came home for lunch. The day before my wife said she wanted one of the lady hats from the feed store when they go one sale. I knew she wanted it to put on the horses and Brahman for photo shoots. She usually balances the sunglasses on their noses. If she is in the mood she will occasionally get a scarf and put it around the neck. :lol2:

Love it! :nod: :clap:

 

[greybeard]

A great picture JW!!!
Thanks for posting it!
:clap: :clap:

 

[glacierridge]

Lovely ladies

 

[Anonymous]

One of the highest headed ladies I've dealt with had 2 whorls. One on each side that spun up like horns from the side of her head.

 

[glacierridge]

Hmm.
Not too sure how I feel about this.
Have clipped plenty of project calf heads with plenty of whorls...
Some calves have whorls in their whorls!!
And not too many nasty ones.
I would say more pesty than anything.