> To those who had comments
> regarding gentle bulls being
> "pets" or "training
> bulls to jump into trailers,"
> etc:
> I certainly don't expect every
> ranch to have gentle bulls that
> load themselves, nor do I expect
> every single bull we raise to load
> himself.
> However, we DO cull for
> disposition and it has paid off
> over the years. We DO have a
> working ranch and raise bulls for
> sale.
> We DO NOT "train circus type
> animals" or anything of the
> kind. You who bash the concept of
> bulls (and cows) that are easy to
> work ought to open up your minds a
> bit. My way is not the only way,
> nor is yours.
> In our situation, we often load
> livestock and move them between
> pastures during the grazing
> season. Cattle tend to learn some
> of their habits from watching
> older animals.
> When our bulls load themselves, it
> is most often when feed is running
> low in a pasture. Putting a flake
> or two of hay in the trailer a few
> times when they're hungry and they
> seldom are adverse to hopping in
> and checking out the trailer. The
> mature bulls seem to know a
> trailer ride often results in
> being unloaded into a pasture full
> of heifers ready to breed.
> Sometimes they load out of sheer
> curiousity, and slamming the
> trailer door before they run back
> out is the wise thing to do.
> Yes, I've chased both bulls and
> cows in an effort to load them.
> But, they've never chased me.
> Well, one crossbred cow did. I
> fetched the dog, worked her up and
> down the fence until she learned
> some respect for humans and dogs,
> and put her in the freezer a few
> weeks later.
> We ear tag and tattoo calves at
> birth, either in the corral or in
> the pasture, and have yet to have
> one of our cows challenge us.
> We never, ever, "pet"
> our bulls. That is a dangerous
> practice, in my opinion. I always
> carry a good sorting stick when
> entering a bull corral and the dog
> is outside the pen just in case
> there's trouble. In a pasture
> situation, we work on horseback,
> or on foot with the cowdog. When I
> fix fence in the bull pasture, the
> dog is at my side.
> Culling for disposition is the
> first step toward a herd that is
> easier to handle than most. Using
> calm methods of handling is
> another step, as is taking a few
> minutes to learn to work with the
> natural instincts of the cow.
> The worst cow I ever attempted to
> AI in my life was a Simmental who
> was usually moved with a hotshot,
> and who had had so many large
> calves in her short breeding
> history that her insides were full
> of scar tissue. I like Simmentals.
> This one was wild in the chute
> because of the way she had been
> handled all her life. Her owner
> has zip when it comes to patience,
> but is always amazed when he sees
> me handling our cattle. He
> "wishes he had time" to
> move his cattle like I do. Funny.
> It takes him twice as long to work
> his herd, ten times the effort,
> and tons of frustration and
> cussing.
> We work our cows from horseback
> when gathering in the pasture, we
> team pen on the weekends, and we
> use the dog when necessary, but
> not on a regular basis. Our cows
> aren't pets by any means, and I
> have seen our momma cows put more
> than one cowdog back up on the
> porch (a friend's dog, not mine).
> They are easy with humans, but
> hell on dogs. They protect their
> babies from predators, but do not
> see humans as such.
Linda, I enjoy reading your posts because they are always informative,well written and helpful.I too love and raise the Murray Grey's. I would appreciate the opportunity to pick your brain (by private email)about the "Grey's".
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