Heifer halter breaking problem

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lightnin4

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 5, 2010
Messages
560
Location
West Tennessee
I've got a heifer like none I've ever dealt with.  When you are around her in the barn lot or even inside the pen in the barn she is fine.  She's not mean, crazy acting, flighty or nervous.  She's not "walk right up to you" friendly, but fairly normal acting.  When you put a halter on she's totally different.  When you try to lead her she tries to pin you to whatever she can find close by and bellows.  When we tie her head up she may stand fine or she may try to climb the panels.  If we walk up to her head when she's tied she'll bellow and lunge at us or act like she's going to get us.  But if you can calm her down & walk up beside her and put your hand on her back she'll stand quietly and let you rub or brush her all over.  She actually seems to enjoy it. 

We took her with some other calves to get feet trimmed the other day.  She didn't need any work, I just thought the trailer ride and being tied in a new place for a while might help.  We even put her on the table, tied her down as if to trim her feet and flipped her over for a while.  We rubbed her head and neck while she was flipped.

Yesterday and today she's been tied in a 10x10 pen all day and fed in there.  She's fine tied in the pen--eats grain & feed good and lays down.  We just got the pens set up & ready to use this week.  Prior to that she was haltered and tied with 5 other calves for 1-4 hours each day.  I turned her out last night after I fed, but tonight I thought l'd leave her tied.  We're hoping that if she has to depend on us for food & water we'll have a breakthrough.  The water bucket triggered a fit the first time we offered it this morning.  I offered water a couple of times this afternoon but she didn't drink until after I fed tonight.

She's consigned to a sale in March so I'm hoping she's going to come around.  Any suggestions?
 

simba

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Messages
524
Location
Saskatchewan, Canada
It sounds like you are putting a lot of work into your heifer, and the fact that you are able to calm her down and she enjoys being rubbed and brushed is a very good sign. I think putting her in a  pen all day is a good idea, but I would definately keep another quiet animal with her so she doesn't get scared and even more worked up. Something that we used to do when I was younger was once an animal was tie broke, tie them in the barn all day with hay in front of them and feed them at morning and night, but instead of bringing the water to them, attempt to lead them to the water. Make sure it's in an area familiar to them, so that they learn that when they are thirsty, as long as they lead well for you, they get rewarded with water. We usually gave them one attempt per feeding at walking to the water bowl, but if they showed attitude or acted stubborn, they had to wait until next feeding time for a second chance. Ususally by the second feedign they walk really well to the water, but are resistant on the way back to the barn, but just keep up the routine until the animal walks well to the water bowl and back. After one weekend the animal usually was leading pretty well. Other than that, I would say keep doing what you are doing. Also, if she hits you, or bellows or gives any kind of attitude, don't be afraid to smack her on the nose, just hold on tight to that halter! lol
 
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