Crazy Heifer

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marlajill

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
7
My son's 11 month old Balancer show heifer has gone absolutely crazy. He halter broke her about 4 months ago, she was more stubborn than other heifers he broke, but she finally gave in. He has already taken her to one show and she did fine.  About two weeks ago she had an outbreak of warts and we had to call the vet to come out and pluck them. Every since then she has been crazy.  When he tries to take her out of the stall to work with her, she just starts jerking, running, and pulling till she gets free. None of us can hold on to her unless we want to get drug through the pasture. When he lets her out in the pasture for exercise, we can hardly catch her to bring her back in.  He has a show in a couple of weeks and we just don't know how he can show her, since she is so wild. He can't walk or work with her. Does anyone have any suggestions on what we should do? I've bought some cattle calm, but haven't tried it yet.
 

Ms Ray

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
235
Location
california
sounds like maybe she knows she can get away, maybe try working with her in area she can't get away in or try a big jim halter , we had one that got away and we ended up buying a nose clip and after a few times with that he stopped trying to get away and my son felt more comfortable with it in.
 

leanbeef

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2012
Messages
944
Location
Tennessee
Yeah...once they figure put they CAN get away from you, those kind are hard to deal with. She apparently didn't like that treatment for warts, and it sounds like she doesn't trust people anymore. Kinda like with people...it's easier to establish trust with someone you don't know than with somebody who has decided they can't trust you because of something they've done to you. So you're kinda starting over there, only at a disadvantage this time because she's found a reason not to trust you, plus she knows she can get away from you.

You'll have to earn her trust again. I would spend a LOT of time around her, just like you're breaking her again, and do things she likes...brushing, combing, scratching, etc. The leading part is tricky, but if she continues to be able to break away, she probably will. She might stop if you can convince her she can trust you...I had one like that once, and I had to borrow a breaking donkey from an acquaintance. After a few days on the donkey, she found a new respect for that halter & I could handle her. She never was especially calm or gentle, but I managed to get her to the show/sale where she went home with somebody else.
 

paj315

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 15, 2012
Messages
199
Location
Central Indiana
My brother had a heifer thay way and the only way we could control her was to put a clip in her nose and she finally gave in
 

marlajill

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
7
Thanks for sharing your ideas. I'm gonna try the nose lead first and see how that goes.
 

Ms Ray

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
235
Location
california
the big jim halter is a metal halter it has a metal circle that goes around the nose so it pushes on them when you pull on it
 

Robbie

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2011
Messages
8
Location
Indiana
I had a steer one year that was so crazy we had to put a nose clip in and two halters so three grown men were on this steer when tried to take off and he drug all three of them, was crazy when we took him to the fair. But seemed to do better when babied a little. From then on I broke all of my calves and when they would act up I would start hugging them.... not for everyone but I trusted my calves. I would def work her in a pen that she can't get away from him in. Tie her up a brush out and talk to her.... These are just a few things I do. They have worked for me and now my little sister. But if she can't be calmed enough to work with don't risk anybody getting hurt. I have had my share of crazy cows. ha ha. But good luck and I hope the nose clip works for you.
 
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