Some will disagree with this info, but we have had in the past stubborn, smart, headstrong, whatever calves and sometimes a time tied to a tractor, donkey or the like will work. We had a heifer this year that was all of the above, and I tied her to a tractor once for a lead for a short 30 minutes and after that she has been good to go. I don't mean to tie her up in a mean spirited way. You have to be smart about it and use common sense. We have had calves in the past that just won't work on a tractor. They will just pull down and drag if you don't quit on one like that, you could IMO hurt one, but most will conform quickly. The deal with our heifer this year was she would be mule stubborn then all of a sudden take off down and away,(smartest heifer that I have ever broke), she'd set you up for it. I usually start leading one in a smaller pen, counter clockwise around so that if they do break down and away I can run them into the fence quickly so that there is nowhere to go. This heifer after 3 rounds around the pen and giving me the impression that she was getting the hang of it took me up to the fence then gave herself a couple steps back quickly moved forward, under down and away & was on the lamb again. Next day tractor for a 30 minute walk & ever since she has been fine. She wasn't a wild one. I would call her a very smart one and got away too many times early on in the process. Hope this helps and remember some just won't work on a tractor. We took an old JD rotary hoe and use the frame to lead 5 calves at a time to walk them. It sometimes works best to have a buddy calf besides the one that you are really wanting to concentrate on. Good luck!!
