won't go in stall!

[Hillary_Indiana]

The calf that I got at the sale barn last week has been turned out as of two days ago. She won't go back into her stall for anything! When it's raining she sits outside. There are some shade trees, but still it's cold! Also, she won't even come in for food, and I'm not sure that she comes in for water?? What could I do. I've tried forcing her to go in, but that is too big of a chore to do every day. Any suggestions? We're getting another new calf soon.

 

[TXBobcat]

Why would you want to force her in the stall? If she has grass/hay and water available, she will probably be fine. She will eat and drink when she is hungry or thristy. She's probably just exploring her new surroundings after being caught-up at the sale barn and then in a stall/pen.

If there are other cattle coming in, she will probably eventually follow. If not, and you really want her in, put her water and main source of food in the barn - she will eventually come up.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

In my observations, most cattle and horses prefer to be outside, even in what we think is "bad" weather. Their body temperatures are higher than ours, they have fur coats on, etc. They will often stay outside in rain, snow, and light hail as a preference. About the only thing that seems to consistently drive them to shelter is cold, damp, wind; and, it is important to have some type of shelter or windbreak for all animals. If an animal is uncomfortable, they will seek shelter. If they are hungry or thirsty they will seek food or water.

There are also individual differences among animals as to their preference for shelter.

Another thing: When an animal is in a "shelter" they can't see all around them for possible predators. Out in the pasture, they can see 360 degrees and probably feel safer from potential predators.

 

[G&L Cattle]

Well spoken, Bill. Preshate it ! G&L

 

[cherokeeruby]

I have always found it interesting that one raindrop will drive Brahmans to shelter, if a sudden downpour occurs they will still run toward the shed with rain, sleet, etc hitting them in the face. Neighbors cows will turn their backs to the storm and walk until they end up at a fence and just stay there. Wonder if anyone else has noticed this?

In my observations, most cattle and horses prefer to be outside, even in what we think is "bad" weather. Their body temperatures are higher than ours, they have fur coats on, etc. They will often stay outside in rain, snow, and light hail as a preference. About the only thing that seems to consistently drive them to shelter is cold, damp, wind; and, it is important to have some type of shelter or windbreak for all animals. If an animal is uncomfortable, they will seek shelter. If they are hungry or thirsty they will seek food or water.

There are also individual differences among animals as to their preference for shelter.

Another thing: When an animal is in a "shelter" they can't see all around them for possible predators. Out in the pasture, they can see 360 degrees and probably feel safer from potential predators.

 

[dun]

I have always found it interesting that one raindrop will drive Brahmans to shelter, if a sudden downpour occurs they will still run toward the shed with rain, sleet, etc hitting them in the face. Neighbors cows will turn their backs to the storm and walk until they end up at a fence and just stay there. Wonder if anyone else has noticed this?

Kind of like horses, pouring rain but if their head is under cover they think they're dry.

dun

 

[cherokeeruby]

No, Brahmans get their entire body under the shed. Just wondering why (at least my) Brahmans will run to shelter and english cows just turn their backs to the storm and start walking, guess if they are lucky and the storm pushes them toward the shed they will go in but usually see them piled up against a fence.

 

[dun]

No, Brahmans get their entire body under the shed. Just wondering why (at least my) Brahmans will run to shelter and english cows just turn their backs to the storm and start walking, guess if they are lucky and the storm pushes them toward the shed they will go in but usually see them piled up against a fence.

Maybe that goes back to the Brahmans being more intelligent. I'ld still like to know how they administer an IQ test to a cow

dun

 

[cherokeeruby]

Cetaceans and elephants are the only animals whose brain mass exceeds that of humans. This fact, however, has questionable significance where intelligence is concerned. Mammals as a class show a relatively constant proportion of brain weight to body weight, estimated here by the solid line. This ratio is noticeably larger first in humans (at the greatest perpendicular distance from the line), followed closely by the porpoise. Whales fall close to the mean. A larger brain size relative to body size reflects a larger cerebrum, the part of the brain associated with intelligence.

http://ca.encarta.msn.com/media_4615177 ... rains.html


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[Hillary_Indiana]

I just thought she'd be cold in the cool windy rain! I won't force her if you guys think it's ok. Thanks for the help.

 

[SPRINGER FARMS MURRAY GRE]

Why would you want to force her in the stall? If she has grass/hay and water available, she will probably be fine. She will eat and drink when she is hungry or thristy. She's probably just exploring her new surroundings after being caught-up at the sale barn and then in a stall/pen.

If there are other cattle coming in, she will probably eventually follow. If not, and you really want her in, put her water and main source of food in the barn - she will eventually come up.

Agreed, when ever I leave a barn door open, they are in there nosing around where they don't have any business. They are very curious creatures by nature. :cboy:

 

[TheBullLady]

Don't worry about her.. she'll go into the stall if she's cold!

Cherokee.. no doubt about it! My cows are the same. This cold front that just went through brought rain.. all the Brahmans were huddled up, hair all standing on end like velvet, under the shed. The Simmentals, all out grazing in the rain, wondering what the heck was wrong with the Brahmans. We can always tell when a rain is coming from the north.. the Brahmans will stampede out of the top pasture down to the barn.

 

[greenwillowherefords]

No, Brahmans get their entire body under the shed. Just wondering why (at least my) Brahmans will run to shelter and english cows just turn their backs to the storm and start walking, guess if they are lucky and the storm pushes them toward the shed they will go in but usually see them piled up against a fence.

Maybe that goes back to the Brahmans being more intelligent. I'ld still like to know how they administer an IQ test to a cow

dun

I think it is common knowledge that Brahmans aren't equipped for cold weather; they came originally from a hot climate, right?

Believe it or not, one of the reasons that Herefords used to be so prevalent west of the Mississippi was their ability to survive blizzards on the range.

 

[mbdear]

After reading all the talk about barns and shelters, my Brahmans are beginning to feel a little deprived since none of the pastures have a barn. Since I rotate every three or four days throughout the year that would take an awful lot of barns to have one in each pasture. They start talking to me as soon as they realize that it is a "move" day and fresh green pasture is coming their way. Their attitude has made an about face from the pre-rotating, continuous grazing, days when they would run the other way when they saw me coming. They make the most interesting noises and grumblings as they wait for the gate to be opened. It gives me a lot of pleasure to watch the pastures change as "ice cream"grasses that had previously been overgrazed have started to fill in, compete, and thrive.

 

[dun]

My Brahmans are beginning to feel a little deprived since none of the pastures have a barn. Since I rotate every three or four days throughout the year that would take an awful lot of barns to have one in each pasture. They started talking to me as soon as they realized that it was a "move" day and fresh green pasture was coming their way. Their attitude has made an about face from that pre-rotating days when they would run the other way when they saw me coming.

One of the things that they don't warn you about is the way the cows get spoiled. After a souple of days, even if the grass hasn't been grazed lower thrn 6-8 inches, the girls get very upset if they don't get to go to a new pasture. Wen I go out in the pasture they troop around behind me like a parade and when I head back towards a gate the run and kick up their heels like calves and beat me to the gate. If I don't move them they'll tand at the gate and raise cane for haf an hour or so before they wander off and shut up.

dun

 

[TR]

I had to chuckle a bit when I read this thread, thinking that I had the exact opposite problem in that I can't keep the girls OUT of the horse stalls. They use them for shade, protection from the weather, or what ever moves them to do so. Sure enough, when I went outside to feed the horses this morning, I saw that the heifers had been in the barn all night........pooping in my nice, clean stalls!!!!! Darnit all! That's why I don't lock the horses in all night, so I don't have to clean stalls in the morning before the chickens wake up and spread the manure into little pieces that can't BE picked up!!!!!!! I'm kinda wishing I had your problem at the moment......as I pull on warmer clothes to go out and "harvest fertilizer".......again...........ggggrrrrrrr! :lol:

 

[Rookie]

I just had to throw my 2 cents in on this one. When I first got my cows I spent money and time building them a really nice loafin shed. Big, dry, roomy, you name it. They will go in to eat, but after a meal they are outta there quick. In the heat of summer they will use it for shade but they stay outside, using the walls, not inside using the perfectly good roof I sweated and bled to erect. Dead of winter you will see them standing out in an ice storm all night. My neighbor has some Holstien steers which do the same thing. Go figure. I guess maybe they just dont like the way I decorated the interior :x

 

[Craig-TX]

A couple of posters above have alluded to this… If your cattle don't have any natural shelter from terrain and cover and you're going to spend time and money building them something, they will appreciate twice as much windbreak more than they will appreciate half as much roof. It's the bitter cold wind that they really hate. Especially if they're wet.

It's got to be nasty cold or they won't appreciate any of it. They will just stand there in the cold and stare at your new shed like a calf stares at a new gate.

Craig-TX