I didn't want to hijack the "sticks" thread by going in a totally different direction, but it did cause me to think about something.
I'll say up front that I have never managed a large herd, probably never more than 20. Whenever we tried to move cattle; however, I was always taught by my father and grandfather to be calm around them. For example, if the herd is in the field and we wanted them to go through an opening or the barn, two or three of us will calmly walk around them, and slowly start walking toward them and maybe wave our arms a bit. They, in turn, will usually start walking slowly away from us and in the direction we want. If we have one a little wild, calmness certainly woks best with it. I try to not even raise a voice.
On the other hand, I've noticed when cattle are unloaded at the sale barn, as soon as it steps off the truck, the workers start warping it with a stick until it goes in the correct pen. Often, it doesn't even seem necessary, it just seems part of the workers routine. Even if the cow heads in the right direction, they have to casually get in at least one good hit with their stick. What's with that?
I remember one time a neighbor's cow got out on us, and it was the wildest thing i had ever seen. It would run through a fence or gate like it was made of thread. We finally got it in a barn and the neighbors came to get it. They backed their trailer to the barn and got in there acting all wild; the cow almost ran through the barn wall. My dad told them to let him try by himself. To be honest, after seeing how the cow had acted, I even assumed he would have no luck, and probably get trampled in the process; however, he got a gate in his hand, remained very calm, and slowly walked the cow on the trailer. Sure, it took a few minutes, but he got the job done without tearing the barn down with the cow loose again.
I've been asked a few times over the years to help someone with their cows, and the first thing they do is grab a stick and start yelling, Hyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
This has nothing to do with feeling it is cruel to them, but being calm was always just more effective for us. Anyone else?
I'll say up front that I have never managed a large herd, probably never more than 20. Whenever we tried to move cattle; however, I was always taught by my father and grandfather to be calm around them. For example, if the herd is in the field and we wanted them to go through an opening or the barn, two or three of us will calmly walk around them, and slowly start walking toward them and maybe wave our arms a bit. They, in turn, will usually start walking slowly away from us and in the direction we want. If we have one a little wild, calmness certainly woks best with it. I try to not even raise a voice.
On the other hand, I've noticed when cattle are unloaded at the sale barn, as soon as it steps off the truck, the workers start warping it with a stick until it goes in the correct pen. Often, it doesn't even seem necessary, it just seems part of the workers routine. Even if the cow heads in the right direction, they have to casually get in at least one good hit with their stick. What's with that?
I remember one time a neighbor's cow got out on us, and it was the wildest thing i had ever seen. It would run through a fence or gate like it was made of thread. We finally got it in a barn and the neighbors came to get it. They backed their trailer to the barn and got in there acting all wild; the cow almost ran through the barn wall. My dad told them to let him try by himself. To be honest, after seeing how the cow had acted, I even assumed he would have no luck, and probably get trampled in the process; however, he got a gate in his hand, remained very calm, and slowly walked the cow on the trailer. Sure, it took a few minutes, but he got the job done without tearing the barn down with the cow loose again.
I've been asked a few times over the years to help someone with their cows, and the first thing they do is grab a stick and start yelling, Hyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
This has nothing to do with feeling it is cruel to them, but being calm was always just more effective for us. Anyone else?