Premier Longhorns
Well-known member
Hi Everyone,
Following are some things that are very important that ALL new cattle owners should know about and even some older breeders could benefit from. No, we didn't make these costly errors when we started out with our beautiful Texas Longhorns, but only because someone was thankfully kind enough to point out the dangers. I am reprinting it off our website http://www.premierlonghorns.com and always include it in the packet of info we give to purchasers of our cattle. Perhaps, this information will save the life of some favorite bovine somewhere-maybe even one of yours.
IMPORTANT WAYS TO AVOID PROBLEMS
MAGNETS: Cattle like to eat, seem to do so on cruise control and can easily ingest foreign matter, like bits of metal (wire,screws, etc) found in the pasture or hay. Many a favorite cow has tragically died prematurely & unnecessarily due to "Hardware Disease", including one legendary Texas Longhorn sire. You can prevent this from happening by giving each cow an inexpensive 1/2"x3" cattle Magnet, inserted at the back of the tongue w/ a balling gun. Available at the feed store for a few dollars each, it looks like a silver bullet. The calf must be old enough (about one year old) for the rumen to be fully developed. One magnet will last a lifetime.
BALING STRING/PLASTIC BAGS: Hay bales usually come wrapped in either plastic netting or plastic string also wire. It keeps your bales securely contained till ready to be consumed. However, it is important that extreme care be taken that ALL the string/ netting be completely removed, not just from the bale but from the entire area that cattle have access to before ever exposing your cattle to the bale. String carelessly left either are the ground or concealed in the midst of the hay is easily consumed. You may even find old partially chewed string around your pasture. More than a few cows and calves have died unnecessarily from ingesting string, something that could have been very easily prevented. Be aware to pickup trash blown across your fence line from any access roads. Plastic grocery bags are a real danger, again are easily ingested and will jeapordize the health of your cattle.
ROUND BALE RINGS: For most breeds, open tubular Rings work fine-But Not Longhorns! If they can get their head through the rails,they can easily get their horns hungup. Open rings are suitable Only for weanlings. For all others use SOLID wall construction designed hayrings. Owning Texas Longhorns is exciting but the excitement of seeing your best cow or bull running hurt & confused through a fence with its head entangled dragging a hay ring possibly breaking a horn or worse-we can do without! We're not saying it will
happen next week or next month but it will happen with open design. Don't let it happen to you. Thanks to Curt Winters (http://www.redhillsranch.net) for this wise advice.
Following are some things that are very important that ALL new cattle owners should know about and even some older breeders could benefit from. No, we didn't make these costly errors when we started out with our beautiful Texas Longhorns, but only because someone was thankfully kind enough to point out the dangers. I am reprinting it off our website http://www.premierlonghorns.com and always include it in the packet of info we give to purchasers of our cattle. Perhaps, this information will save the life of some favorite bovine somewhere-maybe even one of yours.
IMPORTANT WAYS TO AVOID PROBLEMS
MAGNETS: Cattle like to eat, seem to do so on cruise control and can easily ingest foreign matter, like bits of metal (wire,screws, etc) found in the pasture or hay. Many a favorite cow has tragically died prematurely & unnecessarily due to "Hardware Disease", including one legendary Texas Longhorn sire. You can prevent this from happening by giving each cow an inexpensive 1/2"x3" cattle Magnet, inserted at the back of the tongue w/ a balling gun. Available at the feed store for a few dollars each, it looks like a silver bullet. The calf must be old enough (about one year old) for the rumen to be fully developed. One magnet will last a lifetime.
BALING STRING/PLASTIC BAGS: Hay bales usually come wrapped in either plastic netting or plastic string also wire. It keeps your bales securely contained till ready to be consumed. However, it is important that extreme care be taken that ALL the string/ netting be completely removed, not just from the bale but from the entire area that cattle have access to before ever exposing your cattle to the bale. String carelessly left either are the ground or concealed in the midst of the hay is easily consumed. You may even find old partially chewed string around your pasture. More than a few cows and calves have died unnecessarily from ingesting string, something that could have been very easily prevented. Be aware to pickup trash blown across your fence line from any access roads. Plastic grocery bags are a real danger, again are easily ingested and will jeapordize the health of your cattle.
ROUND BALE RINGS: For most breeds, open tubular Rings work fine-But Not Longhorns! If they can get their head through the rails,they can easily get their horns hungup. Open rings are suitable Only for weanlings. For all others use SOLID wall construction designed hayrings. Owning Texas Longhorns is exciting but the excitement of seeing your best cow or bull running hurt & confused through a fence with its head entangled dragging a hay ring possibly breaking a horn or worse-we can do without! We're not saying it will
happen next week or next month but it will happen with open design. Don't let it happen to you. Thanks to Curt Winters (http://www.redhillsranch.net) for this wise advice.
