**8 month old heifer that charges**

[zak]

I have a heifer that sometimes butts me with her head but today she took a running start at me. Anything that I can do to stop her from doing this. When she took a running start at me today I hit her back, but my guess it didn't effect her or will it change anything. Any ideas

 

[knabe]

turn into a stump and let her hit the stump.

it doesn't matter what age they do this, although the younger they are the "cuter" it is.  at no age is it acceptable.  watch mother cow and what she does.

seriously, this "animal trainer" notices these little things that are cute turn into problems later and doesn't tolerate it.  they are easier to fix when small. but given that she already does it:

what 2 or 3 things does she do before this and anticipate when she is going to do this and divert it.  it should be really easy to determine with her posture.  ask her to walk around you when you see even the slightest hint of this.  the earlier you can detect and deflect the attitude and turn it into a positive, the better.

 

[Bradenh]

I have a heifer that sometimes butts me with her head but today she took a running start at me. Anything that I can do to stop her from doing this. When she took a running start at me today I hit her back, but my guess it didn't effect her or will it change anything. Any ideas

when our americans do this as calves. we knock em in the head with a board a couple of times, and then after a while they realize it isnt worth it to charge because it hurts

 

[MotoMojo09]

take a shovel out with u

 

[knabe]

hitting isn't really necessary.  if they are small enough, all you have to do is lift their head with their neck bent.  when they are bigger, all you have to do is walk to their side so they go around you with you sort of acting as the pole.  i personally don't like hitting them because it lets them know how ineffective it is once you hit them.  i don't want a large animal remembering how stupid it is to hit them.  if hitting them was effective, we wouldn't use bull rings.  we fool ourselves if we hit them in hard spot on their head, but at some point you are going to miss, hit an eye, or a nose area that has no bone.  on the other handing, hitting sure feels good.  it's a good feeling to know we really gave it to them.

 

[fed_champions]

hitting in the nose gets their attention, it may bleed, but not much, its like getting your nose busted. The face bone is solid, so its liable to hurt you more than them.

 

[kp1625]

Have you tried politley asking her to please stop?

 

[chambero]

I think an 8 month old is too far gone to change.  And is big enough to hurt you.

Never strike a calf that is scared if you.  One that charges isnt scared. 

Your only chance is to let her know that something real bad happens when she charges.  For one that big, 2x4 across the face is about the best you can do

 

[knabe]

ray hunt

 

[Shorthorns4us]

When making a decision like this, I evaluate the calf as a whole-- are they like this with other calves?  is she doing this tied or loose?  what is her temperment when loose and you are in the same pen?  How does she act at feeding time? 

My personal opinion after I evaluate all situations and watch the calf some more to determine if this is just a bad behavior or more of a disposition trend- then I seriously look at the feedlot for this animal- especially with heifers- I don't want to have an ill-tempered cow or cow with bad behaviors- she is going to be around for awhile and when they calve- you have to be able to work with them.
I am getting too old and don't have enough time to deal with dangerous behaviors or overall touchy temperments. 

That is my philosophy and program at our house.  Hope it helps.

 

[lightnin4]

When making a decision like this, I evaluate the calf as a whole-- are they like this with other calves?  is she doing this tied or loose?  what is her temperment when loose and you are in the same pen?  How does she act at feeding time? 

My personal opinion after I evaluate all situations and watch the calf some more to determine if this is just a bad behavior or more of a disposition trend- then I seriously look at the feedlot for this animal- especially with heifers- I don't want to have an ill-tempered cow or cow with bad behaviors- she is going to be around for awhile and when they calve- you have to be able to work with them.
I am getting too old and don't have enough time to deal with dangerous behaviors or overall touchy temperments. 

That is my philosophy and program at our house.  Hope it helps.

I agree!  Life's too short to mess with ill tempered cows!