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Member
Posts: 30
| How to train a baby calf to have a wonderful disposition when I am around? |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
  
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | With a calf the more you screw with them to get them to stop kicking, the more they are going to kick. They are a lot different than a colt. When we push them down a chute for branding, if you get right up behind them QUICK, they won't kick. If you stay an arms length away and try to push them, they kick every time. If it is something you are bottle feeding, they become pets on their own pretty well and should get used to you that way
Edited by wyoming barrel racer 2014-04-24 7:25 AM
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Member
Posts: 30
| wyoming barrel racer - 2014-04-24 7:24 AM
With a calf the more you screw with them to get them to stop kicking, the more they are going to kick. They are a lot different than a colt. When we push them down a chute for branding, if you get right up behind them QUICK, they won't kick. If you stay an arms length away and try to push them, they kick every time. If it is something you are bottle feeding, they become pets on their own pretty well and should get used to you that way
This guy is a Hereford/shorthorn mix and he's a stinker when I come around. He likes to buck and deliberately kick me when he gets a chance. I told my husband he needs some manners instilled or he's going to the sale batn next week! Lol. Great advice though. |
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Member
Posts: 16
| I had a calf several years ago that was the same way. I took my sorting stick and stood off to the side and ran it down his legs, every time he'd kick I'd whack him on his legs (between the hock and ankle). Only took a couple times and he quit, never did it again. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
 
Location: Alberta | Is this calf to be a pet?
In all my years of halter breaking and showing cattle the way I got ones to kick less was desentizing and handling them....some still kicked no matter what, others got over it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2133
Location: Tyler, Texas | Handle him a lot... Ours our turned out at night and tied in a stall during the day. When we have gotten ones that kick in, we run a broom all over them... keep doing it when they kick. They will learn that the kick does not make the action stop and within a few sessions they stop kicking. Can do the same with a show stick... just touch them all over. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1304
| I second most of what people said. Handle him a lot! Brush him, pet him, just be around him as much as you can. Leave the radio on in the barn, scratch him with a show stick, break him to lead, tie his head up if he's really bein a butt. And while he's tied up get him used to you touching all his feet with the show stick, etc. Just get him used to you. Even then, sometimes they still kick. We raise and show cattle and have had some with awesome dispositions that still have a tendency to kick. I'm not sure if handling him will totally get him to stop kicking but it'll definitely lessen the chance!! |
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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1841
| LOL I had to laugh when I read this. I had to start bottle feeding a calf who lost its mom several years ago. Well this calf started out nice, then when I'd go in the pen she drank some then would stop and tear around the pen and started kicking out at me, she barely missed my shin. that made me really mad! when I saved the darn thing from dying! So I took my dressage whip out there the next time. I waited for her to do it and just like clockwork she tore off and took a kick out at me again, I swatted her really hard right on that leg. She never did it again! I'm not sure if that's the "right" way but I don't take any crap from anything lol. She became halter broke etc but definitely don't put up with anything, when they get to be 1000 lbs, you don't want them thinking they are the boss. |
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 "Spaz-tacular"!!
Posts: 20309
Location: Bennett, CO | It sounds like he is testing his limits and seeing where he sits on the totem pole!
If he is a pet, or even a bull prospect... time for some lessons for sure... dressage whip.. sorting stick or whatever.. he needs to feel a sting when he thinks dirty thoughts.. If he is to be a pet... really fool with him and castrate him ASAP. If he is a bull prospect.. SCARE him enough that he doesent want to be your friend. The elk bull in my photo is a bottle calf... and we have to work on the respect issue a lot as he will get pushy and beligerent if he thinks he can take your spot on the totem pole.
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