brahma_show_girl - some suggestions:
Bear in mind that I have not worked with brahman cattle, and I know they think differently to bos taurus cattle, so this may not work.
Generally, once an animal learns it can get away from you, you are going to have a hard time. She now knows she is stronger than you and she will continue to do it. Also, she knows if she drops her head, she gets more strength, because the head is the centre of gravity.
This is what I would do:
1. Put a nose dog in her - you may or may not decide to do this as I know Brahman cattle can get very irritated noses from nose dogs. Brahman breeders here generally use bull rings but I would understand if you chose not to ring a show heifer. Anyway, what I would do is put a nose dog in the animal, and get her into a smallish yard - the one from your photos looks to be allright. Then I would begin to walk her, and with the nose dog force her to keep her head up. If she drops her head pull up sharply on the nose dog and dont be afraid to hurt her. She needs a bit of tough love. The idea is not to let her put her head down, so she doesnt get her strength to take off.
2. Put a hackamore on her. I couldnt tell from your pictures whether you have hackamores on the animals or not - if not, I would get one for her. I normally work in just rope halters with a ring in them, but I keep a couple of hackamores for special cases. It will help with what I mentioned above ^ regarding keeping her head up.
3. Regarding the tractor treatment. I generally only use a tractor if I have an animal that has learnt to get away, because they simply cannot get away from the tractor. If you decide to do this you really have to be very careful. (You will also probably cop a fair bit of flak from some on these boards - its an endless debate issue).
We use an attachment on the three point linkage that we designed ourselves - it consists basically of a round bar which is free spinning with tie points on it, and a sort of shield device so the animal is kept away from the back of the tractor. If you are able to have just a fairly simple bar made up it is usually sufficient - its just important you dont tie her to any old part of the vehicle. Bring the tractor in your yard area, and tie your bull at the back of the tractor on the right side, and the heifer on the left, so they are next to each other. He will keep her calm and encourage her to walk. Now, it will take a few people, so have plenty of helpers. You need one person to drive the tractor, one person to walk beside your bull on his right side, one person walking behind the bull and heifer to keep them moving and another person in case anything goes wrong. You need to be walking next to your heifer, at about the place you would normally lead her from (she will think you are leading her, not the tractor). Have the driver drive very slowly and smoothly. Take her for a good ten minute or so walk, then bring her back to the yard, maybe give her a bit of feed. Let her relax for half an hour or so, then take her out again the same way. I would do this twice in the morning, and then again twice in the afternoon, repeated the next day if she needs it. Some animals will only need it once, others will need it a few times. Also, make sure you lead her on grass or some other soft surface.
4. Regarding the fact that she seems to be set off when other people are around, all I can suggest is that you a) have as many people as possible brushing her, washing her, feeding her etc. like if you were socialising a pup; b) have people around when you do the things I mentioned above ^; c) lead her in a small yard where you know she cannot get away from you. stand her up in the middle of the yard, and when you are ready have someone come into the yard and approach her, and rub her all over. I do this as a standard thing especially with steers, so the judge can get a hand on them without the animal causing too much of a fuss.
Let us know how you go with her.
And as shortyjock says, sorry for the novel. Apparently I'm an author as well :lol:
