Brangus Heifer
- Thread starter kimbaljd
- Start date
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OK, looking for suggestions here. I am looking to start halter breaking this heifer. We just took her off her momma this past weekend. We put her halter on when we picked her up and she has had it on this whole time. I have her in a small catch pen off the side of my barn that is connected to her stall. I have got her on feed already with no problems and she has a very good appetite. Giving her hay daily as well. In the evenings either my daughter or I will go sit in the stall while she is eating. Just wondering what I should do next.
showsteerdlux
Well-known member
Maybe just rub her with a showstick and then try to brush her. This lets her get used to you.
garybob
Well-known member
Hhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, HAIR in the winter, SLICK in the summer. Interesting.
Pardon me, but, that's the way it's supposed to be.
GB
Pardon me, but, that's the way it's supposed to be.
GB
showsteerdlux
Well-known member
Good one!! ;Dgarybob said:Hhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, HAIR in the winter, SLICK in the summer. Interesting.
Pardon me, but, that's the way it's supposed to be.
GB
Well a quick update on the heifer. She has been pretty skiddish with us so far. I have not been able to get the time with my daughter and I with the heifer that I would like so far. We cant get the slightest of breaks with the weather down here. I think it has been raining for over a month straight. Mud is up to our ears. So what I have been doing with the heifer, I feed her twice a day (Acco Show Heifer Formula) she eats like its going out of style. She used to not let me get anywhere near her. So I got a bucket to sit on and put it right in front of the tub I feed her in. If she wants to eat she has to come to me. I started scratching her with a showstick, took a few tries before she kept running off when I touched her. Yesterday I scratched her on her head a little bit before she took off. Today, I rubbed all over her head and neck and front legs with a soft brush before she got too concerned with me. I am pretty concerned that when I try to get the rope halter it is going to be a rodeo. Just wanting to see if anybody had any suggestions on my progress and if you think I am doing anything wrong orshould I just keep on my current course and not be in too big of a hurry with getting to the lead rope? It was twenty years ago that I showed my heifers, I dont want to go the route I went back then. Want to try the easiest way on everybody.
Just wondering if anybody has seen this video on this link? If so what are your opinions? Was considering purchasing it. My daughter is young and has quite a few good years of showing to go and I dont want to be killing myself all those years.
http://www.showsteers.com/Dvorak/index.htm
Just wondering if anybody has seen this video on this link? If so what are your opinions? Was considering purchasing it. My daughter is young and has quite a few good years of showing to go and I dont want to be killing myself all those years.
http://www.showsteers.com/Dvorak/index.htm
BCCC
Well-known member
Keep doing what you're doing and try and pet her head a Little bit, it might take about a week, or so, then get her in a small pen and put a halter on her, depending on how she acts, weather she hates, it or doesn't mind it. if she hates, put it on her, and scratch her some and give her a treat, and then let her go. If she doesn't it, then tie her up about shoulder high (her shoulders not yours ) and give her some slack, and leave her tied up for 15-30 minutes each day (never leave her alone during the first few tying's). gradually increase to an hour and then up to 4 hours(this will take a while)
Good luck
) and give her some slack, and leave her tied up for 15-30 minutes each day (never leave her alone during the first few tying's). gradually increase to an hour and then up to 4 hours(this will take a while)Good luck
I haven't watched that particular video, but a few years back, RFDTV had a show about halter breaking a calf that I suspect used the same method. I know you used to be able to order videos from them for around $20. The young man halter broke a bull calf in nothing flat, it was pretty amazing to watch. He put the calf in a small pen and got in with him with a show stick. He kept scratching the calf until it started to calm down. When he could get close enough, he slipped the halter on and kept scratching. He'd pull gently to one side and get the calf to take a couple of steps, then he would scratch some more with the show stick. He kept repeating this process, getting the calf to take a few steps when the rope was pulled on. When he felt comfortable, he moved to little bit bigger pen. If I remember correctly, he added a little length to the rope so he could keep a hold of the calf if the calf wanted to move farther away. The whole point was to never pull so hard that the rope caused the calf pain. It didn't take long and he was able to tie the calf to the fence. I do remember that he said if the calf started fighting the rope to untie him immediately and keep scratching and leading him in a circle. He said sometimes you are able to tie them up the first day and sometimes not. We've started using this method on our calves and I love it. The only thing different we do is to halter them the first time in the chute and then put them in the small pen. It's easier then to just pick up the end of the rope than to try to get up to a calf that is really flighty. They break just as quickly as our old methods and there's never swollen heads. We've even started doing this with our baby calves when we have the cows up to AI. We just pen the baby, start scratching and put the halter on. Even though we don't try to completely halter break them at this point, it's amazing how much of this they've retained at weaning. They respect the rope so much more than the ones who haven't been handled up to that point. Sure wish I'd have learned this method 20 years ago! Good luck!
AAOK
Well-known member
rmbcows said:
Great suggestions. There are a million different opinions on halter breaking, but slow gentle work combined with reward always wins in the end. When the calf is convinced it is dependant on you, it will do whatever you want.
We honestly let them settle a week or two after weaning before I start messing with them. I like to get them getting used to coming to us to eat instead of us just being the monsters that took em away from momma.
I don't like letting them drag halters, but some people do. I want them to know when the halter is on its time to go to work. When you do have her on the halter, keep her in a small area where she doesn't have room to get away. Just messing with her a few minutes every day will take care of things just fine.
I don't like letting them drag halters, but some people do. I want them to know when the halter is on its time to go to work. When you do have her on the halter, keep her in a small area where she doesn't have room to get away. Just messing with her a few minutes every day will take care of things just fine.
red
Well-known member
There is an article on breaking calves on the front section of www.steerplanet.com
You might find some tips there too. I'm like chambero, I don't like to the halters to remain on them all the time.
Red
You might find some tips there too. I'm like chambero, I don't like to the halters to remain on them all the time.
Red
Well we finally have started to get a break in the weather down here. Has not rained for four days now I think it is. So we are starting to dry out. I finally got a chance to get out there with my daughter and give halter breaking a serious effort. I have a pretty easy time getting the halter on the heifer. She is even starting to lead a little. The only problem is that she throws her head a bunch when I am trying to lead her around. Trying to be patient with her. A different route than I took twenty years ago with my calves. I tried the strongwilled method. Looking back it was a stupid method. I have been leading her around some inside the barn with all the gates closed. Then I tie her up with her head pretty high while we take care of the other chores around the barn. Then we feed and turn loose for the night. Anything I am doing wrong or right? Let me know. Or just any other tips in general.
sawboss
Well-known member
My youngest son has a May '07 Brangus that will be in Houston next week, she was a class winner in Fort Worth. She also throws her head when you first put the halter on, that just comes with the breed and young age. When we get her stalled at the show she settles because of a more regimented schedule. Bathing, blowing, feeding and all of the other cattle seem to help her calm down. Be patient and it will happen. I have the video by Dan Dvorak and it is a very basic calm and patient oriented training. We incorporate his methods a lot on our steers and has paid off for us. The Brangus heifers can best be described, as my wife puts it, "SASSY" not mean or aggressive just full of attitude. This same attitude is what makes ours shine in the ring, because she is alert and has a tight look about her.
sawboss said:
I got Dan's video a few weeks ago. It is pretty good. Helped a lot with getting her started with the halter breaking. The only thing I would have liked to see in the video is him working with a calf that was a little more "flighty". The calf he used seemed pretty gentle from the get go.
