Bullock being bullied

StevieNicksFan

Hi, one of our bullocks is being followed and harassed by the other bullocks in the field. They will headbutt and throw themselves at it and then walk away, leaving him by himself - until they decide to start again. They will also follow him around and corner him. This has been going on for a few hours now and its awful to watch as he is clearly being bullied. What do you suggest I do?

have2flushtwice

Put him into a Smaller group?

StevieNicksFan wrote: »

Hi, one of our bullocks is being followed and harassed by the other bullocks in the field. They will headbutt and throw themselves at it and then walk away, leaving him by himself - until they decide to start again. They will also follow him around and corner him. This has been going on for a few hours now and its awful to watch as he is clearly being bullied. What do you suggest I do?

Genghis Cant

Are you only after introducing him to the group? Or how long is he with them?

StevieNicksFan

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Are you only after introducing him to the group? Or how long is he with them?

They were all bought together about a year ago, but they have just been let out of the cattle shed on Monday . I couldnt say whether this bullying had been going on in the shed but we are noticing it now that they are outside

munkus

He'll be grand once they're not rising on him too much, only lasts a few hours.

This is where the term bully comes from :-)

edit as just see your last post

: shouldn't be going on for a few days, take him out.

on the river

StevieNicksFan wrote: »

Hi, one of our bullocks is being followed and harassed by the other bullocks in the field. They will headbutt and throw themselves at it and then walk away, leaving him by himself - until they decide to start again. They will also follow him around and corner him. This has been going on for a few hours now and its awful to watch as he is clearly being bullied. What do you suggest I do?

dont worry yet. they are only deciding on who boss. if this continues maybe consider putting him in a smaller group. or put him with younger stock or with cows. good luck

Genghis Cant

It seems to me that for some or various reasons his comrades don't recognize him as part of the group, if they accepted him inside in the shed.
Is it many of them causing the problems?

I wouldn't be as worried with bullying outdoors as indoors, but the last thing you want to happen is the bullock gets a hurt.
Is removing him to another group an option?

StevieNicksFan

Thanks for all your replies. I was out in the field there and the pushing around has seemed to have settled down but the bullock in question is sitting a little bit away from the rest. Will keep monitoring the situation and move him if he is getting hurt.

onyerbikepat

I reckon a serious amount of cattle get hurt every year from so called bullying. I have a calf this year with a hurt back leg, that the vet reckons wont come right. I think he was mounted by an 8 month old weanling I had in with the cows for heat detection.

StevieNicksFan

I think you are right. I have heard of other farmers having the same problem For some of them it settled down over time, for others their cattle got really hurt. There seems to be no set rules on what to do in these situations. I came across this article which explains cattle behaviour and this stuck out "Cattle are social animals used to living in herds. They are easier to move in groups. They do not like to be isolated...Cattle behaviour is influenced by rank. Low-ranking animals may try to avoid dominant animals. Dominant cattle may turn and attack subordinate animals and cattle may become stressed and dangerous when they are separated from the herd" Makes you feel sorry for the recipient of the bullying! But again, no right or wrong as to what to do. I will leave him now for the night and see how things are in the morning.

Source: http://www.acc.co.nz/PRD_EXT_CSMP/groups/external_ip/documents/publications_promotion/wim2_065192.pdf=onyerbikepat;90068180

I reckon a serious amount of cattle get hurt every year from so called bullying. I have a calf this year with a hurt back leg, that the vet reckons wont come right. I think he was mounted by an 8 month old weanling I had in with the cows for heat detection.

sea12

onyerbikepat wrote: »

I reckon a serious amount of cattle get hurt every year from so called bullying.

Had this year with a sheep. A hogget was put into field with cull ewes. They pucked her non stop. Hurt her before I copped how bad it was and had to bring her to factory when I was bringing the cull ewes. Even in the trailer, they pucked her.

stop animal cruelty

we have 2 weanings that were getting bullied by other weanings, so the father separated them and put them in with 4 others cows and got bullied again, but not as bad. feel so bad for them...we were dosing them this morning so had to put them all together and as soon as the 2 were put in the with others they went straight for them we're putting them out tomorrow and am hoping they'll be alrite but after reading this thread it doesnt sound great....and there both so quiet