PET COWS

[msscamp]

There's a big difference between tame and pet.

I agree. I can get within a few feet of any of our cows, and that's all that is needed.

 

[Saltydawg]

I've only have one that will stand there and allow you to pet her and she's the boss of the herd.
The others will allow you to approach them but they watch you and if you reach for them they'll move, some quicker than others.

None of them are flighty or spooky though.

 

[memanpa]

tame, workable, not flighty YES a pet no, if i want a pet i'll get a goldfish, there are a lot of stories out there about people being hurt and or killed by animals that everyone said was soooooooo sweet and gentle, the just do not understand how it could hurt anyone,
those that choose to hug em and such are an accident waiting to happen, possibly not to themselves but to someone else such as a child. pets that grow up to be 1000#++ should not be allowed.

 

[Victoria]

I think there are two basic reasons people get hurt with touchable cows. First they forget how big they are. It's like a horse, they can accidentally hurt you just because of their sheer size. They shouldn't be thought of as a poodle because they aren't one. Second too many people who can pet their cows do not maintain the herd position of boss. My cows know that I am boss. I also don't have a problem with them attacking me for feed. They are not allowed to touch the bucket until it is given to them. They learn at weaning that I can carry around the bucket as long as I want to and if they get excitable or try to push a head in they get a stick across the nose. Cows are trainable and the ones that are trained are useful. The ones that just push people around are not. My cows for the most part also do not allow other people to pet them, there are three I can think of off hand that a stranger can pat but the person has to approach the cow, not the other way around. They also don't follow me around the field for fun, they are cows, they have better things to do like eating and sleeping.
I do have to wonder though why people will train their horses and pat them but say that they don't want a 1000+ pet around?

 

[randiliana]

I want tame, quiet cows. Ones that I can walk out among and they don't take off. We have a couple that we can scratch if we want to, but for the most part they won't let us get that close. But I can usually get close enough to see if they have an eye problem or if they have footrot or just a crack in the hoof. If I want to treat them they have to go down the chute, they aren't that quiet. Ours don't get grain so that isn't an issue, if we want them somewhere we chase them there. Pretty hard to get cows to follow a pail for miles.....

 

[LonghornRanch]

I think you guys are mixing up "Tame" vs "Pet". "Bucket trained" vs "Pet."


Nothing wrong with cows that will follow a feed bucket.

 

[gabby]

I think you guys are mixing up "Tame" vs "Pet". "Bucket trained" vs "Pet."


Nothing wrong with cows that will follow a feed bucket.

I agree. I've had to deal with flighty/wild cows and I don't want to go there again. My cows are happy to see me and that's the way I want it. I usually have cubes with me. I carry the bag on my lap in a golf cart and I dribble them out as I drive along, and I keep moving so they don't surround the cart and get within kicking range. They can spy that golf cart a mile away and they start a comin to me.
gabby

 

[Dave]

I think the comment about calm cows is right. I do have cows tame enough to pet but I remain the boss. If one even bumps into me they find out real quick who the meanest SOB in the pasture is and it is me.

 

[arkcowman]

I don't mind tame cows but if I had it to do all over again I wish I would have never starting hand feeding them. Its great that they trust me and will let me walk among them but its not great having a 1,000lb pet who runs at you hoping to get a treat. Its taking some time but I'm having to back out of that senerio. I'm transferring my interaction to my two donkeys and getting the cows back to being cows. Too tame has high risks.

 

[andybob]

We keep our cattle manageable, usually about a 6 ft 'flight zone' is maintained especially with a disabled person helping, due to the history of docility in the breed they are the only ones I would allow Craig to work with (but not bulls).
The nearest to pets we had were the Jersey crosses that were hand milked as house cows.

 

[coolpop]

I only have 12 heads of cattle (1 young bull, 2 steers, 2 cows, 5 yearling heifers, 2 heifer calves) but I take pleasure in the fact that I can walk up to any of them in any part of the field to check them out, look at ears, eyes, hoofs, udders, what ever I need to check......and I don't have to have treats or feed to do it. All of my cattle enjoy being brushed, they stand in line and wait to be brushed - it's so funny to watch them.

They understand that I'm the boss..! There have been several times one gal got the end of my boot planted in her nose because she wanted to be pushy - she's now my best yearling.

We don't have a chute - only an old style stancion in the first barn stale - that's how we AI, give shots, or do whatever we need to do.

The 2 cows were my bottle babies 3 yrs ago, 3 born on the property, the others were purchased from another farm to my property.

I mostly work the cattle by myself so I needed them to be tame. They even understand the words "backup", and "no", and "go to your feed bunker", they do what is indicated by the words.

As for pets -- I wouldn't say mine are pets, we butcher a steer every year for our own consumption, we sell to other people. I know when it's time cull.

I had a Jersey/hereford mix that amazed me. She was the herd leader (I say was because we sold her - she suckled other cows) I was putting feed in the bunker - it was getting dark, my husband moved to one side and spooked this girl, she shifted her weigh towards me, knocked me down. I started yelling "ouch, ouch" even thou I wasn't hurt, yet. She jumped over me then came back to lick my face, I'm guessing to make sure I was ok.

Moral of the story -- me & my cattle are respectful friends but I wouldn't turn my back on any of them, my feet are always planted in fashion for a quick exit, I try to leave myself an out as well as the cattle.

I have to say working with cattle is very enjoyable and I can't remember what I did with my time before we bought our first few 7 yrs. ago.

 

[coolpop]

Happy Halloween

 

[Victoria]

Sounds like you have your herd so that it is easily workable coolpop. "No" is the most important words to teach any animal. That and their name/number. Your place sounds like here, you've got less cows but the same ideas. You probably spend a lot of time with your animals.
Happy Halloween to you too, looks like your girl is dressed up for church. :lol:

 

[aplusmnt]

I would love to see Caustics face when he sees that picture above with the hat on a cow. :lol:

 

[coolpop]

yea! me too! I thought the picture was appropriate for the title of the posting, "Pet Cows" hehehe! :lol:

 

[bwr1963]

We don't have a cow that you can't put your hands on for the most part, sometimes too tame they swamp me when feeding about run my chuck wagon over. Keep the bull not tame cuase he swings that head and all. However all the cows are gentle some more than others, there are a couple that aren't real tame but u can pet when they eat a little.

 

[redneckcowgirlmn]

So, does that mean if you only have 2 calves, it's not a good idea to halter break them? (Sure makes it easier to bring them home when they run through the fence...again!) :mad:

 

[S.R.R.]

There's a big difference between tame and pet.

I agree. I can get within a few feet of any of our cows, and that's all that is needed.

Yep there is no use in them being scared of you most of my cattle will let me within a few feet as well.

On the other hand thoses of you who do have "pet" cows are just asking for trouble!! There will come a day when you or someone you love is going to get hurt and it will be to late to wish you had not made pets out of a 1000lb animal. Making pets out of cattle is a fools game!!! You should never let your guard down around animals of that size.

 

[glover36]

any cow that will come up and let u scratch their head any that dont are shipped hve about 100 cows like this there a dream to work with lol

 

[Caustic Burno]

I would love to see Caustics face when he sees that picture above with the hat on a cow. :lol:

Thats the kind that will hurt you, when you are not paying attention.