OP
OP
Anonymous
It's nice to be able to show the "old timers" that there are "nicer" ways of getting an animal to comply than using a cattle prod.
I sold two 8 month old Jersey bulls the other day, they're going to be gomers. One remembered his training and led right out and up into the trailer, but the other decided to be a little jerk and lay down on us and refuse to move. The "old timer" commented about how the only way we'd get him up would be with a cattle prod. I had him step back and showed him what my great-uncle had shown me years ago. Clamp your palms over the nostrils and your fingers under the chin and cut off their air, they'll get up in a few seconds, and most won't do it again. This one was stubborn and did it 4 times before he decided to remember that he really had been taught to lead. And the nice thing is that they don't hold a grudge over it, like they do when they get "shot".
Heck, my dad has 35 head of Angus and Angus cross cows and he doesn't even have a head gate, but has no problems working them. I am really pushing for that head gate though, I'm supposed to AI those cows this spring and I don't think just being tied to fence post will be enough for me to feel comfortable -- they know HIM, not me.
Ann B
> Cheers to Linda! Patience,
> positive reinforcement (food
> treat, esp. if they haven't been
> fed that morning or evening) will
> work wonders in sorting, working,
> loading cattle. They don't have to
> be pets. However, a touch of
> appropriate animal psychology and
> all goes a long way to easy
> livestock management. Punishment
> gets one only momentary
> compliance; positive reinforcement
> brings long-term behavior change
> in an acceptable format. Being in
> a hurry to work an animal only
> causes frustration to the cowpoke
> and opens the door to mistakes and
> potential punishment paradigms.
[email protected]
I sold two 8 month old Jersey bulls the other day, they're going to be gomers. One remembered his training and led right out and up into the trailer, but the other decided to be a little jerk and lay down on us and refuse to move. The "old timer" commented about how the only way we'd get him up would be with a cattle prod. I had him step back and showed him what my great-uncle had shown me years ago. Clamp your palms over the nostrils and your fingers under the chin and cut off their air, they'll get up in a few seconds, and most won't do it again. This one was stubborn and did it 4 times before he decided to remember that he really had been taught to lead. And the nice thing is that they don't hold a grudge over it, like they do when they get "shot".
Heck, my dad has 35 head of Angus and Angus cross cows and he doesn't even have a head gate, but has no problems working them. I am really pushing for that head gate though, I'm supposed to AI those cows this spring and I don't think just being tied to fence post will be enough for me to feel comfortable -- they know HIM, not me.
Ann B
> Cheers to Linda! Patience,
> positive reinforcement (food
> treat, esp. if they haven't been
> fed that morning or evening) will
> work wonders in sorting, working,
> loading cattle. They don't have to
> be pets. However, a touch of
> appropriate animal psychology and
> all goes a long way to easy
> livestock management. Punishment
> gets one only momentary
> compliance; positive reinforcement
> brings long-term behavior change
> in an acceptable format. Being in
> a hurry to work an animal only
> causes frustration to the cowpoke
> and opens the door to mistakes and
> potential punishment paradigms.
[email protected]