Crazy heifer!!

Eeyore

Hi all,

I've been a long time reader of this forum but this is my first post here so please bare with me

My dad and I have a very small holding. We buy in weanlings every year, keep for about a year and then sell on. Thankfully we've never had any issues until this year. We bought heifers (lim, ch,) this year and everything was great until about a couple of weeks ago.

Unfortunately our land and sheds are on opposite sides of the road, which means they have to cross the road when they're being put in for the winter. They all came across the road bar 2!!

Now 1 of them is quiet enough but the other one is crazy!! Up until then, she never showed any signs of craziness or aggression. My dad was trying to put them into the pen to load them last week (they were being fed in there for about a week up to that without any issues) but when he tried to close the gate, she bolted and knocked him straight onto his back. She then went into a large bunch of briars, turned and as she was passing him out, she let fly with her back legs, grazing his hand.

We're really at our wits end with them. A particular gel has been mentioned to us which can be put through the feed to 'calm' them as such.

Basically what I'm looking for is, has anyone used such a product and how did they find it? Or if anyone has any other suggestions we would gladly hear them! You can pm me if you'd prefer or if that would be more appropriate.

Finally apologies for the long post.

patsy_mccabe

Best thing would be to let back all the other cattle and start all over again. She'll be a lot quieter in the middle of a big bunch.

History Queen

Eeyore wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been a long time reader of this forum but this is my first post here so please bare with me

My dad and I have a very small holding. We buy in weanlings every year, keep for about a year and then sell on. Thankfully we've never had any issues until this year. We bought heifers (lim, ch,) this year and everything was great until about a couple of weeks ago.

Unfortunately our land and sheds are on opposite sides of the road, which means they have to cross the road when they're being put in for the winter. They all came across the road bar 2!!

Now 1 of them is quiet enough but the other one is crazy!! Up until then, she never showed any signs of craziness or aggression. My dad was trying to put them into the pen to load them last week (they were being fed in there for about a week up to that without any issues) but when he tried to close the gate, she bolted and knocked him straight onto his back. She then went into a large bunch of briars, turned and as she was passing him out, she let fly with her back legs, grazing his hand.

We're really at our wits end with them. A particular gel has been mentioned to us which can be put through the feed to 'calm' them as such.

Basically what I'm looking for is, has anyone used such a product and how did they find it? Or if anyone has any other suggestions we would gladly hear them! You can pm me if you'd prefer or if that would be more appropriate.

Finally apologies for the long post.

I don't know anything about that gel you spoke about but when we have issues here normally we just let back 4 or 5 quite animals to join the crazy one... then slowly steadily 5 or 6 of us walk them back to where we want them ( also we leave behind any enthusiastic volunteers of the 'hand waving' and/or 'roaring' variety ) nothing worse than excitable farmers when dealing with an excitable animal.

On the other hand just when u note her letting fly for your father I'd be very wary of dangerous behaviour like that and would be shipping her off to the factory if she is going to be a danger to handle.

Edited to say: Sorry Patsy's post came in there as I was posting!

jimini0

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Best thing would be to let back all the other cattle and start all over again. She'll be a lot quieter in the middle of a big bunch.

+1
That's what I would do. It sound more like separation anxiety than anything.

Eeyore

Thank you so much for the prompt replies!

Sorry, meant to say in the original post that we brought the cattle across again into the field with her. Twice! But same thing happened. They were TB tested in that pen/crush during the year and we were extremely lucky to get her in the first time and it took 8 attempts to get her in for reading!

When it comes to moving or anything really to do with cattle, it's always just the two of us and sometimes, during the years we can manage with just one of us. We don't believe in shouting, roaring or sticks. It gets you nowhere. As I said before, we've never experienced an animal like her before.

As soon as we can get her in (IF we get her in), she's gone!!!

jimini0

Eeyore wrote: »

Thank you so much for the prompt replies!

Sorry, meant to say in the original post that we brought the cattle across again into the field with her. Twice! But same thing happened. They were TB tested in that pen/crush during the year and we were extremely lucky to get her in the first time and it took 8 attempts to get her in for reading!

When it comes to moving or anything really to do with cattle, it's always just the two of us and sometimes, during the years we can manage with just one of us. We don't believe in shouting, roaring or sticks. It gets you nowhere. As I said before, we've never experienced an animal like her before.

As soon as we can get her in (IF we get her in), she's gone!!!

Ahh well you have only one option.
Get some help to get her in and then off to the factory

mattP

Letting the others back is definitely the way to go (third time lucky maybe?). I would suggest maybe luring them over with nuts instead of herding them, so theyre more relaxed and it might keep your one off edge. Once you get her over, put her in the trailer and take her to the factory/mart. Mad ones never calm down, and they only upset the rest.

dohc turbo2

I always give my suckler a small bit of ration a day or two before moving and works well for me

Kovu

If moving back quieter ones to be with them doesn't work, you should get them used to coming to you when you're shaking a bag with nuts. We never herd here, if we know they have to be moved or penned the following week, we go out every day with a few kg of nuts, walk through them, shaking the bag and they learn that shaking bag= Food! After a few days they'll follow the person with the bag.
If I ever have to go behind to push them on, I always find the cattle warier as they have somebody behind they can't see so they're constantly turning their heads to look at you.

Eeyore

Again, thank you all so much for the replies!

Because of the way she behaved last week, we really don't want to get anyone else to help us in case she goes for them.

As for the ration, that's the thing that we don't get! We firmly believe in the bucket! It has always worked for us. It often got to the stage where we would have to sneak into the field without them knowing to get the ration out, or else they would knock you down. We don't herd either. Always have used the bucket and we used it the day we were bringing them across to the sheds. All the heifers were being fed ration for at least a month, every day. But she was always the last to come to the troughs. She would stand back, with the head up in the air, waiting for you to back away. We thought maybe if it was just dad doing it that she would become used to him feeding them, but no!

He has been feeding these 2 heifers each day since this all happened. He can nearly touch the other heifer at the trough but the other one is still behaving the same - stands back, head in the air, looking at him until he leaves. He has even tried staying in the field, a bit back from them but he lost his patience after an hour!

Again guys, thank you all so much.

mattP

Out of interest is she a lm or ch?
I heard that years ago lm cows/heifers were stone mad, and that it had mostly been bred out of them today but now and again you can still come across real crazy ones :P

pedigree 6

Is there an electric fence in the field?
You could try and tighten them all up to the pen with a white tape reel and pigtails.
You would need two people at least one on the reel and one on the stakes.
You should leave a current in the fence when you're doing it or they know well enough and run through it.
Anyway might be worth a try.

KatyMac

Is the road busy?? You couldn't chance opening the gate and having a bucket in the middle of the road or scattering the nuts on the surface. Could they then see the ones in the shed. If you had a couple of helpers either side of the gate, well back from where they'd come out to stop them going up or down the road, and stop the traffic, maybe they'd move towards the shed.
I've often helped neighbour this way - myself and husband would stay on the road dressed in hi-vis jackets, well away from the gates and stop the traffic for a couple of minutes and he would shake bucket and throw nuts on the tarmac. Once they saw where they were going the cattle would break into a gallop to meet up with their mates.

Charliebull

pedigree 6 wrote: »

Is there an electric fence in the field?
You could try and tighten them all up to the pen with a white tape reel and pigtails.
You would need two people at least one on the reel and one on the stakes.
You should leave a current in the fence when you're doing it or they know well enough and run through it.
Anyway might be worth a try.

+1 on fence but set it up in field for a few days and let her get a few jolts out of it to get used to it, get her in , up onto trailer and away for a bullet between the 2 eyes

Base price

Charliebull wrote: »

+1 on fence but set it up in field for a few days and let her get a few jolts out of it to get used to it, get her in , up onto trailer and away for a bullet between the 2 eyes

+1
The gel that OP was told about is probably a well know sedative used for horses mainly for clipping and dogs. It is not for use in animals destined for human consumption.

_Brian

Eeyore wrote: »

Again, thank you all so much for the replies!

Because of the way she behaved last week, we really don't want to get anyone else to help us in case she goes for them.

As for the ration, that's the thing that we don't get! We firmly believe in the bucket! It has always worked for us. It often got to the stage where we would have to sneak into the field without them knowing to get the ration out, or else they would knock you down. We don't herd either. Always have used the bucket and we used it the day we were bringing them across to the sheds. All the heifers were being fed ration for at least a month, every day. But she was always the last to come to the troughs. She would stand back, with the head up in the air, waiting for you to back away. We thought maybe if it was just dad doing it that she would become used to him feeding them, but no!

He has been feeding these 2 heifers each day since this all happened. He can nearly touch the other heifer at the trough but the other one is still behaving the same - stands back, head in the air, looking at him until he leaves. He has even tried staying in the field, a bit back from them but he lost his patience after an hour!

Again guys, thank you all so much.

I feel your pain OP,
We had a LMx heifer and nothing would work.. She broke once and covered miles before stopping, fed her for a week where she was and tried to load and again she covered farm after farm with nobody after her.. Eventually got her cornered in a yard a few miles from home.
Housed her and never let her out again.

She was like something possessed, I'd be suspicious as she was dead quiet in the ring when we bought her.. Even in the shed, she would stand back from meal until we left the shed. We were moving heifers out of another pen one day and she spooked - ran at a solid block wall at the back of the pen and just jumped at it, hoof marks about 9ft of the ground on the wall.

I think you'll be better with more help but they need to be quiet men and used to stock. Get her in and keep her in.

rathbeg

Eeyore wrote: »

Thank you so much for the prompt replies!

Sorry, meant to say in the original post that we brought the cattle across again into the field with her. Twice! But same thing happened. They were TB tested in that pen/crush during the year and we were extremely lucky to get her in the first time and it took 8 attempts to get her in for reading!

When it comes to moving or anything really to do with cattle, it's always just the two of us and sometimes, during the years we can manage with just one of us. We don't believe in shouting, roaring or sticks. It gets you nowhere. As I said before, we've never experienced an animal like her before.

As soon as we can get her in (IF we get her in), she's gone!!!

sometimes we find it may be necessary to leave back 5 or 6 with her for a week or more continue giving them loads of nuts or ration so she will form a bond with the others and then try nice and gently as the lads were saying and when you do get her in put her on slats with them small pen is best so she cant get away from you when you walk up and down the passage and usually in a week or two she will be fine but remember a mad heifer is way more dangeriuos than a bull

djmc

+1 on the white tape wire half the field from gap down even with battery fence.
After a few days when they are used to it let all cattle out together
Use a second run of tape wire onto other side of gap with no shock on it as cattle won't know.
Use second tape wire as you walk around cattle kept tight by hand or on a real and tighten up until there is a wire passage at both sides.
As you walk behind them they can only go out gap or jump wire.
Keep calm hopefully she will follow the rest out
Have a gate to close at other side of road in case she breaks or turn back from yard.

L1985

One thing I had to do with a wild heifer was keep moving the trough closer and closer to the gate. Eventually it was at the gate then out the gate etc etc did it over a week or so it was a pain but she was cracked wouldn't come near the gate. It was on to a lane thou so I'd a bit more luxury that way. Then into the yard and onto a lorry!!
I don't think leaving et with just one other heifers a good idea thou id put at least 2with her to get some momentum up.

mf240

Leave here there.

She will be well cooled by patricks day.

patsy_mccabe

She'd be in the Parade come Patrick's Day.

charolais0153

Now its not a gel and i font know will it work for ye but its worth a shot. http://pedigreecattle.ie/cattle-grooming/feed-additives/tranquil-natural-calmer-1-litre and whatever chance ya have with that ye haven't a hopee with this stuff. http://pedigreecattle.ie/cattle-grooming/feed-additives/show-calm-tubes

rathbeg

Eeyore wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been a long time reader of this forum but this is my first post here so please bare with me

My dad and I have a very small holding. We buy in weanlings every year, keep for about a year and then sell on. Thankfully we've never had any issues until this year. We bought heifers (lim, ch,) this year and everything was great until about a couple of weeks ago.

Unfortunately our land and sheds are on opposite sides of the road, which means they have to cross the road when they're being put in for the winter. They all came across the road bar 2!!

Now 1 of them is quiet enough but the other one is crazy!! Up until then, she never showed any signs of craziness or aggression. My dad was trying to put them into the pen to load them last week (they were being fed in there for about a week up to that without any issues) but when he tried to close the gate, she bolted and knocked him straight onto his back. She then went into a large bunch of briars, turned and as she was passing him out, she let fly with her back legs, grazing his hand.

We're really at our wits end with them. A particular gel has been mentioned to us which can be put through the feed to 'calm' them as such.

Basically what I'm looking for is, has anyone used such a product and how did they find it? Or if anyone has any other suggestions we would gladly hear them! You can pm me if you'd prefer or if that would be more appropriate.

Finally apologies for the long post.

Well curiousity killing me how did ye get on with the hiefer after

Dunedin

mattP wrote: »

Once you get her over, put her in the trailer and take her to the factory/mart. Mad ones never calm down, and they only upset the rest.

Best of luck.

Nothing for me to add really that others haven't said except just be patient, would give her as much time as she needs with nuts every day, twice if you can.

I wouldn't rush to getting extra help apart from those well hidden on the road stopping traffic. If you and your dad can go together each day to give the nuts, it would be much better as you will be there without threatening or stressing her and when you least expect it, you will nail her.


Now, whatever you do, please don't bring her to another mart. Would you really want to put someone else in the same boat you are in...... Factory only route for this lady.

Eeyore

No update whatsoever lol

Both are still in the same field. The trough is in the pen but they won't come near it until we're out of the field. I've even stayed in the field, a good bit away for the guts of an hour and they wouldn't go near it.

We brought a few over for a while, thinking it might help, but when we tried to close the gate, the bold one would bolt!

They don't run from us. In fact we can get quite close to both of them. But if the bold one gets a hint of you trying to catch her, she heads off.

I think dad has given up on them at this stage, for now.

Because of what she did with dad, there is no way we would let anyone into the field. Up to this, we never needed help from anyone with moving cattle, bar getting 2 people to stop cars when crossing the road.

This, I think, is most definitely a waiting game, cross the fingers and hope lol

_Brian

Some vets will use a tranq gun to stop animals like this. Might be worth it to get her under control.

patsy_mccabe

Could you get a long piece of the white fence wire and use that to pull the gate shut from a distance.

Eeyore

I actually mentioned it to our vet early on but he doesn't have one. To be honest, the way things are going I think it might be our only option. But to find someone, that will be a challenge

Eeyore

We haven't tried using white fence or a long rope, because dad is full sure that she will take on the gate, or worse still, go to jump the road gate or wall. They've never jumped or gone through anything (like the fence) and we really don't want them to start - they might not stop then!

Askim

Is it possible to blot on gates to the last 2 bars, stack large square bales out side them, or high sided trailers & get her penned in.

What then ?? How would you get her into a trailer? ? and are the factory able to handle her ??

If you had to have her shot on farm due to health & safety would your insurance cover the loss, or can you get dept permission to slaughter on farm for your own consumption.

Just some thoughts

A

grange mac

Had few limo's in macroom mart v recently... One of them attempted to jump over the shoot where cattle are unloaded from trailer and into the mart...he didn't like being penned in. Once we lifted his front legs back down he lifted up and threw aside barrier on his side and ran back down adjoining loading shoot.... I told handlers back off & leave him relax and stop belting him...
We got his comrades to go back to him & settle for few minutes.... Holding up 2 loading bays. But he was frothing at the mouth& could tell was mad....but he calmed down again.

Just saying patience goes a long way with them & they don't like any change in their surroundings. So slowly but surely feed them & when field gets bare they will appreciated the nuts more....just takes bit of time...

I wouldn't be waiting for hour watching them eat...get them associated with you & feeding them...will come round...

patsy_mccabe

OP, I can feel you pain. I have a mad heifer myself. She calved 3 months ago and never quietened down since. I'm fattening her in a shed at the moment. There is always a way to handle these animals, if you put your mind to it. She does sound like she is more nervous than aggressive. So all you have to do then, is keep her calm and you should be able to handle her. The best way to handle her is keep her is in the middle of a big bunch and she should be fine.

Are the gates and pen high enough? Could you bring in more gates and tie them where the pen is low? If you do manage to get her in the pen, let off one or two of the quiet ones. If she does jump the pen then , she will head to those cattle outside and not head off on her own through the hedges.

leg wax

tip . sit in the tractor with a gate on the front loader that fits the pen, drive around them and force them into the pen , has worked many times here on my own with wild cattle ,what ever it is they take no notice of the tractor pushing them towards the pen.

Belongamick

Safe to say that everyone here feels your pain and frustration here.
Have had two cases of the same mad cattle here and two things helped move them.
1. Hunger - if you have too big an area there is no urge for them to stay close to the gates/pen/trough - reduce the field to an acre for example. I have found the traditional 4 legged trough to be in the way sometimes and have gone for the plastic barrell cut in half. You can move it closer to the gate even drag it out the gate to tempt them as long as they are kept fairly hungry.
2. Herd Instinct - generally wild cattle seem to hate being singled out so more cattle with them is best. If they won't keep to their own herd then you may have to borrow an older cow from a neighbour. Younger cattle tend to follow the cow and the cow will definately eat nuts etc.
This sort of thing will mess with your head for possibly weeks. I had to let my two mad nutters into a neighbours herd of twenty sucklers who were brough into a slatted house and my nutters were seperated eventually.
You will conquer this lady eventually without anybody getting hurt.

RD10

Had been following this post for a while with a lot of interest. Any luck with this doll since?!

rathbeg

well any luck with that spirithed hiefer
is she dead or alive

Jack C

Pleeease. Tell us. Where is she now.