calf wont walk

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Angusboy

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Indianola, Iowa
my calf has been walking fine for over a month and tonight when i gave her a pull on the halter ,she would throw her head down and wont walk
 

Steer4Caddy

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Jun 28, 2009
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Texas
don't use a tractor.  Take her to a small show and odds are, she'll be a little nervous and want to go where you are.  Give her some time but don't get rough.  We use to make that mistake also.
 

lcc10

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Dec 12, 2010
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"dont get rough" you cant always use this saying you have to let the calf know you are the boss

i have had a couple of heifers be dog gentle & just stop leading use a hot shot, when whoever is leading them someone else get behind them, the person leaing them as soon as they stop make a noise the SAME noise every time and then the person behind hot shot them and do it the same way every time and then they will associate that noise with the hot shot when they stop
 

3dfarms

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North Carolina
I will agree that some are tougher than others, but also agree with Steer4Caddy that a tractor is not always best.  Had a heifer that we put behind the tractor once and could have plowed fields with her because front legs locked and head back she refused to cooperate.  We didn't pull her but a second because we were afraid she was going to hurt her neck or legs being stubborn. 

Hopefully since she has been walking well that she was just having a bad day and will be doing better now.  Sometimes an animal wants to test you a little and if you have someone behind her to keep her moving next time she will realize she is just better off to work with you.

Good Luck.
 

bart

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you dont toss her around and kill her? YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT from the way you talk on here i doubt you can even run a tractor
 

Bradenh

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we broke 65 calves the past four years for people (we get paid to do it. and we halter break every calf we have ever sold) and if they wont lead after 2 weeks. and they fight the halter. we drag them on the tractor. never hurt a single calf if you use some sense and dont floor it. total probably 20 on the tractor so far. including all of the calves on my posts about "steer pics" they were broke with a tractor and a dodge dually
 

Bradenh

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we are also huge fans of hot shots. we actually took one to a show with us one time a couple of years ago to get a calf around the barns
 

kfacres

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bart said:
whip out the tractor and drag her if it gets bad

(clapping)

wama do a bunch at one time, get a flatbed gooseneck, and tie em up..  of course, we have to have plenty of people, so that someone is sitting, or walking alongside the calf, so the calf thinks the person is pulling them, not the trailor.  don't get smashed or hurt though in the process, for either party (beast or person)
 

Bradenh

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yup pull em about 4 at a time. and walk with the tractor. the calf aint real smart and he thinks you are leading him and pulling mighty hard. but like the truth said. dont get smashed (and dont stand infront of the tires because that can be dangerous and hurt a calf  ;))
 

Show Heifer

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lcc10 said:
"dont get rough" you cant always use this saying you have to let the calf know you are the boss

i have had a couple of heifers be dog gentle & just stop leading use a hot shot, when whoever is leading them someone else get behind them, the person leaing them as soon as they stop make a noise the SAME noise every time and then the person behind hot shot them and do it the same way every time and then they will associate that noise with the hot shot when they stop

Angusboy, if you decide to use this "hot shot" idea, and you are leading the heifer, let me know what hospital you end up in, and I will send you a card. 

Seriously, that is a bad, bad idea. You are suppose to be building TRUST with your show animal, not cause fear and pain. They will associate YOU with the pain, and where do you think THAT will get ya?

Just be patient and keep working her. She will be fine. (Unless you ruin her, but using a hot shot or tractor)
 

Bradenh

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its just like raising a small kid. you have to have some physicall pain involved (at least my daddy used to whip me) to learn to do right. then once you do right they learn that if they lead. good things happen. they associate the pain with not leading. assuming you do it the right way. because how do you associate pain with the person when you are the one feeding that calf everyday? what you said there wasnt really logical since they associate you with feed as well.. . if the calf doesnt lead. make it lead. then eventually it will lead on its own because most of them dont enjoy the hotshot
 

bart

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Show Heifer said:
lcc10 said:
"dont get rough" you cant always use this saying you have to let the calf know you are the boss

i have had a couple of heifers be dog gentle & just stop leading use a hot shot, when whoever is leading them someone else get behind them, the person leaing them as soon as they stop make a noise the SAME noise every time and then the person behind hot shot them and do it the same way every time and then they will associate that noise with the hot shot when they stop

Angusboy, if you decide to use this "hot shot" idea, and you are leading the heifer, let me know what hospital you end up in, and I will send you a card. 

Seriously, that is a bad, bad idea. You are suppose to be building TRUST with your show animal, not cause fear and pain. They will associate YOU with the pain, and where do you think THAT will get ya?

Just be patient and keep working her. She will be fine. (Unless you ruin her, but using a hot shot or tractor)
i agree with show-stopper all the way. you dont know what the heck you are talking about. the calf doesn't have to like you. it has to respect you and do what you want. the person is the boss. it is alot like raising a kid as said before. but instead of going to the shed and getting it beat out of you. you just stick with a hotshot or drag until they get the hint.
 

Show Heifer

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More animals have people problems, than people have animal problems.
Do NOT resort to "the easy way" and use pain and fear. Trust me... All that will do is create an animal that is fearful of you, and quite possibly turn mean and get worse.
All your heifer needs is more time and work. You started her just fine, now you just need to be patient. The show season is much more fun if you have an animal that is trusting of you. 

Show Stopper, Animals are much like humans, they (and we) remember pain much quicker and much longer than we do pleasant experiences.  So of course they would remember the hot shot or hurt/sore legs much longer and vividly than they do the "dump the feed and leave" experience. Any animal behaviorist will agree.

 

Bradenh

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dont dump it and leave. sit by it and be with that calf. i have broke alot more cattle than you have and im talking brahman cross cattle that are psychotic. you have to create an understanding with that calf about who is the boss. and you arent any animal behaviorist your self
 

Bradenh

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and im just going to throw this out there for you. the showseason is fun with a calf that trusts you and all that. but its alot more fun when that calf acts right and leads  ;). and knows how to act like a little gentleman in public.
 

frostback

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Colorado
Show stopper 95 said:
. i have broke alot more cattle than you have

I am not going to get into the what method works best but just found that comment hilarious.
[size=10pt]HE IS 15[/size]
 

Bradenh

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1. frostback my age is on my profile. im glad you are so observant as to click on it and point that out. very bright. 2. the topic says calf wont walk. your input was totally off topic as to helping the kid out. so all in all you just pretty much wasted your time with all of that. just want to let you know. . . but i just found that comment hilarious  ;D
 
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