Mean or Normal Behavior

[BigIronTX]

Hello!

We recently got three heifer TX Longhorns, a yearling and two 7 month old calves. The 2 calves have been with each other since birth and get along great. The yearling, while from the same heard hasn't been with these calves but has been socialized w/ the rest of the heard.

I've noticed that the yearling has been isolating and 'herding' the smaller calf away from the other one. She will push her and chase her off from food, water and herd her away from different places in the pasture in, what appears to be, an effort to keep the smallest away from the other calf.

Is this normal "boss" cow behavior in the establishment of the social hierarchy, or is the yearling just mean? This behavior has been going on for a few weeks now.

Note that all of them are very social and nice with us in handling them - sans the yearling not wanting either of them around if its treat time.

Thoughts?

 

[4hfarms]

We had 4 spring calves. Late Mar -Mid may the first one hangs out with the adults and the rest are together. He takes a licking (both literal and figurative), by all the others but prefers to be an adult already. He is not even interested in a buddy just a few days younger.

 

[wbvs58]

They can be bitches.

Ken

 

[Brute 23]

Normal. When the calves get some size the fight will be a little more fair.

 

[Warren Allison]

Hello!

We recently got three heifer TX Longhorns, a yearling and two 7 month old calves. The 2 calves have been with each other since birth and get along great. The yearling, while from the same heard hasn't been with these calves but has been socialized w/ the rest of the heard.

I've noticed that the yearling has been isolating and 'herding' the smaller calf away from the other one. She will push her and chase her off from food, water and herd her away from different places in the pasture in, what appears to be, an effort to keep the smallest away from the other calf.

Is this normal "boss" cow behavior in the establishment of the social hierarchy, or is the yearling just mean? This behavior has been going on for a few weeks now.

Note that all of them are very social and nice with us in handling them - sans the yearling not wanting either of them around if its treat time.

Thoughts?

They will be fine once the others get a little older. Is she just now 12 mos old, or somewhere maybe older than a year? If so , she may be in heat.

 

[BigIronTX]

They will be fine once the others get a loitle older. I she just now 12 mos old, or somewhere maybe older than a year? If so , she may be in heat.

She just turned 12months today actually.

 

[georgiabob]

She just turned 12months today actually.

That's more than old enough for a heifer to be in heat. Could well be that. I've got a couple of beefmaster cross heifers that are coming up on a year old and they've already cycled twice.

 

[Mountaintown Creek Ranch]

Normal bullying.

 

[farmerjan]

Sorry to say but 3 is never a good number... and yes, somewhat normal bullying stuff... Probably need to add one or 2 more so they can find their own buddy without having one be the odd man out. The hormones at that age do not help either...

 

[Ebenezer]

A good reason for polled cattle.