Questions

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  • January 3, 2010 at 12:41 am #41264
    drafthossluvr
    Participant

    Hi again! I’ve got some questions:

    1. I want to get a bottle calf (a steer) but he will be alone, I don’t have any other cattle. Will he stay by himself without going through fences and freaking out or does he need a friend?

    2. What type of “treats” can he have? and what can he not have?

    Thanks everyone!!

    January 3, 2010 at 2:21 am #56705
    Howie
    Participant

    He should have a friend but does not need to be cattle. It can just as well be you.:) Or a dog, cat, or even a goat.:p

    January 3, 2010 at 8:48 am #56706
    CharlyBonifaz
    Member

    What type of “treats” can he have? and what can he not have?

    second question first: too many treats; they should remain an exception;
    mine will do anything for a roll, an apple, a bottle of beer, a yoghurt, a twig of fir…he’ll tell you, no worries

    January 4, 2010 at 9:45 pm #56707
    Nat(wasIxy)
    Participant

    I personally think it is very important for cattle to have the company of other cattle. They are very social animals, meant to be in a herd – they love to groom each other, and a dog or yourself won’t head-wrestle with him the way a bovine mate would. Imagine spending your whole life with no one around you speaking the same language, or enjoying the things you do 🙁

    From an oxen point of view, I also think it’s important for them to be bossed around by mature cattle as calves – it stops them being spoilt brats and socialises them IMO. I see a lot of singly kept, bottle raised steers turn out spoilt and dangerous.

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