Ok - a little back ground. I am not new to breaking calves - been doing it for years. When I was a kid broke 3-5 per year for 10 years for the fair, and now as a dad have helped to break 6-8 each year for the last few years. Have broke 100 plus calves in my lifetime. So this is not my first rodeo. I have a Trading Favors steer that is probably the best calf we have ever owned. He was purchased in a pasture sale in SD, so probably did not have much human contact prior to us purchasing. We started by working with him just as we did all of our other calves this year. We put into a small pen, catch them by hand (no headgate chute), and lead around for a while then turn loose. We have done this repeatedly, and over time the calves do really well with understanding the process. Until this steer. He is always very nervous acting, and has a somewhat aggressive nature about him. When it is just my daughter and I, we get along OK, but he is far from show ready. When anyone else is in sight he goes bonkers, and acts like it is his first time being haltered. Recently we have been keeping him tied up and leading him to water, of which he does OK if we are alone, but you bring anyone else in and he goes nuts. We have a radio going in the barn. We have tried calm and cool pellets for horses. He is obviously not going to any show unless something drastic improves. Not worth getting anyone hurt, but he would really do well at our fair in July if we can get him calmed down. Sorry for the length, but am at wits end.
I am open to suggestions - are some calves just unbreakable? - Have never run into this before.
Thanks
Cyfarmer
I am open to suggestions - are some calves just unbreakable? - Have never run into this before.
Thanks
Cyfarmer