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 Expert
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Location: Silver Lake, MN | So my boyfriends daughter likes to show beef. I told her I would try to help her halter break her calf and work with the cow she is showing in 4H. The cow was shown last year but she still gets away from her sometimes. I worked with the calf a little bit to gain some control of her and was working on body control. Is anything similar between horses and cattle? I know the cattle have such short necks that if they take off it is hard to disengage their hindquarters which is my first instinct. LOL. Any help would be appreciated other than hooking them up to some farm machinery which I have heard as well. We are trying to have the daughter do as much as possible herself to teach some responsibility. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| My kids showed Santa Gertrudis heifers. When the heifer spooked they would bring the head to them, effectively disengaging the rear end and never let them get their head down. You have to be quick and not have much slack between your hand and their head. Once we started breaking them differently, though, that problem pretty much went a way. Also, at their first show, we would give them Quietex. Some it helped with, others not so much. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | We show...PM me for any info you are curious about. We are still newbies.... |
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Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | How did you start breaking them? The calf is young and we are just in the beginning processes so she will be a fun one to start I think. The cow for the most part is pretty good but I am glad to hear that you can disengage them like that. I worked with the cow a little last fall and they were telling me not to turn her in that direction because they don't turn that way in showing. I said I didn't care she wasn't going to take off with me. LOL. This was right after the daughter had got drug cause she took off. They are very open to learning but we have limited assistance around us for this short of thing. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| It is kind of long to type out. I am leaving to go home from work and have no computer at home. If it is alright with you I can PM you this evening. It is a very easy way but takes a little time, but man, it allows them to learn to trust you. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1304
| I've shown open cattle and market steers since I was ten years old so I can help some!
Start by tying them up, A LOT, and with their head up. This will teach them some respect and that standing still is better than flipping out and being tied up.
Also rub the show stick all over her, scratch her belly, pick up her feet with the show stick, and brush her so she gets more used to being touched!
Once you start walking her a show stick in front of the face is important.
Keep their head up, one because it's what's appropriate in the ring and two they can't do much with their head up like this. Also, if they try to run off or get out of line, smacking them on the muzzle with a show stick a few times shows them whose boss. I don't mean that in a cruel way either. If you've shown cattle you know they're tough and they get more scared of it than anything. Just lifting the show stick and holding it in front of their nose after this usually sends them the message to quit acting up. If not, give em a tap on the nose and a jerk of the chain.
A leather halter with the chain underneath the chain is very helpful to get as well. If they try to take off, it's much more effective than anything else.
A TON of walking is very important. It will get tiring but is very important and soon it'll be so much easier.
Make sure they've been introduced to water and bathed many times before show time so that they're used to this.
Keeping a radio in the barn helps them get used to noise as well!
I know some people that find a special treat (cookies, donuts, etc) that their cow likes and that can help with the bonding and breaking process.
I've probably missed something but showing/breaking cattle is similar to horses but very different in many ways! Spending a lot of time with your cow and working with it is very important and will give the best results with them being calm. It's very rewarding but requires a lot of dedication, like horses! Good luck 
Edited to add, we have used a tractor before and how we've done it is having a rope halter AND a leather halter on the cow. Tie the rope halter to the tractor somewhere but make sure you have enough slack and then someone walks next to the cow and acts like they're walking it with the chain/leather lead in their hand. The tractor goes very very slow during this and if the cow doesn't go it soon will but the person with the chain lead will pull on it as if you're trying to get it to walk and then releases pressure once it starts walking. I guess it's kinda like associating the person leading with the tractor strength! Lol. Hope that made sense!
Edited by blccwgl55 2015-06-24 5:08 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | I showed Angus so congrats on entering the show cow world! Never let go when they pull away - hang on for dear life and try to plant your feet to get them stopped. Lol i had a friend that went flying out behind his running steer one time following this rule but it really does help if you stick with it. If they learn they can't get away they won't try it as much. Another thing that helps with halter breaking is lots of tie up time. I used to bring my cattle in the barn and tie them low like at a show during the day with fans on and turn them out at night. The more leading and show practice (setting them up) she can do at home the better. If the cow or calf get nervous at a show and you're afraid they might try to get away from her you can give them some ace or some show cattle calm paste. Hope that helps some! |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| I just read it again and saw it had been shown last year so I guess you didn't need that extra fluff but that's ok! My bad. Lol |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | blccwgl55 - 2015-06-24 5:00 PM
I've shown open cattle and market steers since I was ten years old so I can help some!
Start by tying them up, A LOT, and with their head up. This will teach them some respect and that standing still is better than flipping out and being tied up.
Also rub the show stick all over her, scratch her belly, pick up her feet with the show stick, and brush her so she gets more used to being touched!
Once you start walking her a show stick in front of the face is important.
Keep their head up, one because it's what's appropriate in the ring and two they can't do much with their head up like this. Also, if they try to run off or get out of line, smacking them on the muzzle with a show stick a few times shows them whose boss. I don't mean that in a cruel way either. If you've shown cattle you know they're tough and they get more scared of it than anything. Just lifting the show stick and holding it in front of their nose after this usually sends them the message to quit acting up. If not, give em a tap on the nose and a jerk of the chain.
A leather halter with the chain underneath the chain is very helpful to get as well. If they try to take off, it's much more effective than anything else.
A TON of walking is very important. It will get tiring but is very important and soon it'll be so much easier.
Make sure they've been introduced to water and bathed many times before show time so that they're used to this.
Keeping a radio in the barn helps them get used to noise as well!
I know some people that find a special treat (cookies, donuts, etc ) that their cow likes and that can help with the bonding and breaking process.
I've probably missed something but showing/breaking cattle is similar to horses but very different in many ways! Spending a lot of time with your cow and working with it is very important and will give the best results with them being calm. It's very rewarding but requires a lot of dedication, like horses! Good luck
Lots of good advice here! ^^^^ |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thank you! If I didn't have any advice from years of showing I must've been doing something wrong. Lol. I miss showing cattle so much! I never thought I'd force my kids to do anything but when I have them someday they're going to have to show an animal..it's not an option..lol. I learned so much responsibility, the ways of life, and dedication by this and it builds up your bank account! |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Search Kirk Steirwalt on you tube he has lots of great resources as well for showing cattle.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLnou3_wuaYnxzCHUZ9L0L6mjBrswZzQC7&v=OOJCrzqLgB8
https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLnou3_wuaYnxzCHUZ9L0L6mjBrswZzQC7¶ms=OAFIAVgC&v=OOJCrzqLgB8&mode=NORMAL
We have angus and show them (grew up in 4-H and Jr shows) I love it.
When we halter break anything they get tied with a neck rope first (and get fed grain) once they understand pressure (yep same as horses) we will incorporate the halters. We find it saves them from getting raw nose/jaws and poles. We have only had 1 calf that tried to run away after he learned what pressure was,fixed that by tying him to a long lariat and let him run off ..well he hit the end of the rope and popped himself back....he never ran away again.
lots of great advice has been given so best of luck!
Edited by dream_chaser 2015-06-24 7:44 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | Awesome thank you so much for all the incite!!! Yes the cow was shown last year as a heifter she is a pretty shorthorn cross and her calf is only about 100lbs right now so still pretty managable. Both get tied up quite a bit in front of the fan but the cow needs to be walked more and the calf is just learning how to lead. I like the idea of always having the stick with when leading...that makes sense to have something to get their attention and also get their head up.
Such a learning curve but it is fun. She is not a quiter and hasn't let go when her cow did take off. She hasn't had too much of an issue this year, she got drug a little bit but was able to keep a hold of her. I will check out the youtube videos. I really appreciate all the help!! Trying to get as educated as I can to help with the handling part...the fitting part is a whold nother ball game. |
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Expert
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Also let me add, that I'm going to be honest and have let go of a cow before. It's best to stick it through and make them know who's boss but if the situation calls for it and her hand would some reason be stuck (I'm sure you know this but never wrap a lead rope around your hand, just throwin that out there for others) it's best just to let them go. Especially if you're in a confined area and know they won't run off. But I've had cows knock me down, try and run off with me, and just get plain unruly and that show stick and jerk of the chain is the best! I was unloading my one steer at the fair and he got off the trailer started hoppin and tried dragging me into the barn, pushed me over and I landed on some hay bales. I jumped up, grabbed and grooming shoot pole and gave him a small thud on the muzzle and boy did that get his attention...we didn't have any problems the rest of the way to his spot in the barn. It's funny because at that moment covered in some sweat, steer slobber, and poop I heard an old man's voice somewhere say "now that's a woman right "thur". Lmao 
Anyways, it sound like you all are on a good path and she'll do great!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 628
Location: Missouri | Lots of great advice. Go to a Stock Show U clinic if you can Sullivan's Supply puts them on the they do more technical stuff such a fitting and feeding. Good luck
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Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | She did get to attend a clinic just a couple of weeks ago!! Lots of good information. I had to miss out because of a barrel race I had already entered but here dad went. Wish I could have gone though, maybe the next one! It sounds like it was a lot of fun. |
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