Hi! I'm not Vicki...lol. BUT, we raise registered Texas Longhorns! We select our breeding stock from gentle, easily managed lines. Any Longhorn that for some reason (rare) that has a calf that has an "attitude" is Sale Barn material (or next year's freezer beef).
We start bonding with and touching the body of our new calves from day one (unless mother is too over-protective, then we wait a week or so). Holding them, rubbing all over their body, talking to them, positive reinforcement at feeding time, etc. Within a month of age, we start halter training. Put a halter on and let calf drag a lead rope around 24/7. We keep halter training calves in a nice pipe fenced pen with their own loafing shed. Important thing is to use "paired-associate learning"--which is, pairing something pleasurable (food) with talking to them and touching them, rubbing them, etc. By the time they are 6 months old, they are just like puppy dogs...lol.
If a Texas Longhorn is not halter trained by 6 months of age, their horns may cause a problem and they definitely don't like to be handled when they are older. On the other hand, we got a 14 month old Longhorn Bull that now, with 42" horns at 19 months, is a big baby and loves to have his head and neck scratched, rubbed all over, etc. LOT depends on their breeding and genetic temperament in general. When selecting a Longhorn to purchase, if you possibly can, WALK through the herd and observe their disposition. Will tell you a lot about cows, bulls, heifers, AND what they might produce in terms of offspring. Hope this helps some! Bill
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