what to do when your calf is challenging you?

[ivy]

my trainee is, for the most part, pretty well behaved. however, as soon as he knows we are on our way back to the barn (which at some point before we are at the barn becomes obvious due to the minimal number of ways to approach said barn), he would like nothing better than to break into a run. this, of course, is not okay and i make him stop with command and stick and sometimes a tug on his halter and stand still for a few seconds or a minute and then start again at a walk. well, he’s catching on to this little routine and is none too happy with it.
after we’ve stopped a few times, he will start to shake his head and snort and generally act irritated when we are not moving. when he does this i have been holding his halter and saying “stop it” in a low firm voice. i’ve also tried staring him in the eyes when i do this, trying to emphasize, “i’m the boss. you are the calf.” this doesn’t seem to be working, however. i’ve been doing this for about a week. i feel like he knows what behaviour i would like from him, but he’s just not interested enough in performing it. (although this may not be the case at all.)
does anyone have any ideas or tips that worked well for them when their calves seem to be giving them attitude?

also, thank you so much for all the helpful advice that this forum provides. i really appreciate all the knowledge!

[sanhestar]

Hi,

first, I’ve never trained a cow before but I trained horses and goats (pack animals).

When teaching a young horse to have patience on the way home the most valuable asset was time and patience. I remember once spending 1/2 hour waiting with a yearling just 100 meters away from the barn. He wouldn’t quit trying to overrun me, so I stopped, let him back up a few steps and then wait. To make the right effort, I counted – slowly at least to 60 – and whenever he moved I would start the count again. This is a nice way to remain calm and not to start rush yourself. You have to reach 60 before you may move on…..

If they start to challenge me I would let their actions blow off of me. What helps me is to say “you don’t impress me with that at all!”, stand my ground, ask a few steps backwards and restart the count.

But it’s also a perfectly normal behaviour. It’s a young animal and his safety zone is in the barn/at home. As soon as his bond to you will strengthen he will become comfortable with you everywhere.

If he’s not too upset you might try feeding him while you’re outside. Maybe he rushes home because your routine is to give him a tasty treat/feed after you get home and he anticipates it now.

Sabine

[Git-Up-Doc]

A few years back I was in 4-H, and was for 14 or so years. 13 of those years I took a beef calf, and a couple of years I took 2 cattle at once (not oxen, a heifer and a market steer). I learned a few tricks when training single animals that will probably work well.

Tie a long rope to a tree if you don’t trust the animal. This rope should be attached to the halter and tied surely. Walk the animal around and if the animal runs keep up with it and when it runs out of rope say “Whoa”. After a few times the animal will learn not to because they think you’re the one holding it back. This will also work with a stubborn animal. Tie it to the tractor and have someone drive the tractor and you walk the animal. If it gets stubborn get the tractor to pull it for a short period of time. It will soon think you are the one pulling it and give in.
Also, just walk the animal around and just randomly stop, or turn left or right or back up with the animal. Don’t let the animal anticipate what it going to happen next so it will be more attentive to you and your commands. When I would help younger 4-H kids out with the animals I would tell them these tricks, they would look back at me as if to say “you expect me to do that ?” and then it would click in that I was over 6 feet tall and probably weighed a quarter the weight of the animal whereas they were quite a bit smaller than their calf.

try some of these tricks and just keep working with the animal, it will start to listen to your commands and not bolt.

[Crabapple Farm]

Cattle are creatures of habit. It sounds like your calf associates heading towards the barn with the teacher saying “class dismissed,” and so starts acting like a young hooligan. You need to disassociate walking towards the barn with the release from training. Make walking past the barn, or walking towards the barn then turning around and walking away again, part of your routine. That way the calf will never know when the lesson is going to be over. Even go to the barn, tie the halter to a post or gate or whatever, walk away briefly, then come back, untie the calf, and take him out for another walk. He gets excited because he expects to be released once you reach the barn – break that expectation.
-Tevis

[Howie]

#1 feed and water the calf BEFORE you take him out.
#2 NEVER feed or water him when you bring him back, Make another trip to feed and water him, make him wait at least half an hour.
#3 If he tries to go to fast towards the barn,stop wait a minute then turn him around and back him toward the barn a little ways then turn him around and start again, repeat as needed.
#4 When you get to the barn do not stop, go past and then back to the barn.

[ivy]

I am totally guilty of feeding and watering upon return to the barn. I was doing it before we left, but he seemed reluctant to leave once fed. Gah! I’ll see if I can’t make feeding unrelated to lesson-ing.

Thanks for that tip and for all the other advice.

cheers
ivy

[Gulo]

If the animal is young, don’t expect too much. They get better as they mature, is what i find. Time will solve problems for you if you keep at it in little sessions. Sometimes, if the session has gone very well, i will try not to do the things i know will upset the animal on the way back, the ol’ “end on a good note” thing.

If you can get the animal to stand willingly on the way back, praise him and start him sometimes before he gets agitated. Again, you’ve accomplished your motive without making the experience frustrating for the animal.

[ivy]

I wanted to post a little update here for any other novices out there. The feeding upon return to the barn thing was totally the problem. Within two or three days of not doing that and having some treats on hand during our lesson, the problem was much better. Now it’s not even a problem anymore. No pulling, no racing back to the barn, nothing. Now we can work on learning gee and haw (until something new comes up).

[sanhestar]

great, thanks for the update.

[Howie]

I have a hay rack at the far end of my medow which I put a 4 by 5 bale of hay in with the steers. When I want the steers I put a dish of corn screenings off the dryer by where I hitch them and call them. The hay rack is 500 yards from the barn but by the time I get their yoke out they will be coming through the gate. All the feed they get is that hay and a 2 pound can of the corn screenings, when I want to use them.
PS It won’t be today. We have about 20 inches of snow on the ground and it snowing hard. Good day to work in my shop.

[Anne]

Hallo Howard!
I´m still very happy, that I have bought your britchen. I wish your shop would be near by! Keep on the good work!

[Rod]

Hi Howie

I agree, recieved my britchen today, very nice job. Thank you.

[Howie]

When I can help someone with their oxen, It makes life worth living.

[Author]

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