Highlands just moved

boyd5212 · #1 08/08/06, 06:14 PM

We have just brought home 2 Highland cattle cows (age 4 and 6). We have put them in a pasture of about 4 acres, 1 of which is wooded. The cows seem to have made the woods home and are not venturing out into the pasture. If they don't settle in soon, we are thinking of making their space smaller and forcing them out of the woods. Wondering if anyone has any input on this...

Up North · #2 08/08/06, 06:31 PM

If the woods are part of their pasture I'd let them be. The cows aren't going to starve because you don't see them out in the pasture. I'm sure they will soon get used to their surroundings and spend more time out where you can see them. Now I don't have cows with horns or Highlands so would their horns getting caught in the trees or bushes be an issue? I know there are lots of Highlands owners here so I'm sure they will have a better informed opinion on this.

Heather

wr · #3 08/08/06, 07:49 PM

Don't forget, highlands are browsers and they might have found something in the woods that appeals to them for now. Another thing to consider is they are likely using the trees a bit to avoid the greater amount of insects and brush off any that follow them into the woods. I would worry far more if they were racing around the pasture than because they've simply found a spot that they like.

boyd5212 · #4 08/09/06, 07:55 AM

We think they're in the woods settling into their new surroundings, having fun scratching on the trees and playing in the brush. There's no sign of them venturing into the pasture to graze. We trust when they get hungry enough for the good stuff they will come out for the luscious stuff.

Our concern is that they're upset about the move and will sort of wild themselves in the woods...if that's the case we would rather head it off.

With your reassurances, we'll give it more time. Should a week be enough for them to settle in? Our weather here isn't too too warm, but maybe enough so that they prefer the shade and mossy ground in the area they've settled in...

We're quite new at this so your input is appreciated.

wr · #5 08/09/06, 08:28 AM

If you're worried about them de-socializing (mine never have and they range in the summer with little human contact), take them out a pail of grain and sit with them while they eat or make a point of walking through them, if it's possible to get in with them.

Patt · #6 08/09/06, 02:19 PM

Good advice from WR. Feed goes a long way towards making friends with your cows.

We also have Highlands and they do like the woods more than our Dexters or other cows I've seen. Highlands are also a bit more shy of new people. To be honest I would have recommended that when you first brought them home you keep them penned close to you for the first week or two until they lost their shyness. I recommend that with any cow but Highlands especially because they can be a bit flighty.

boyd5212 · #7 08/09/06, 02:51 PM

In hindsight we should have divided the pasture so they didn't have such a vast space (for only 2 cows) to become familiar with. But to do that now we wonder whether it would help or hinder.

We do have some grain as a treat for them, but only one will eat it. They aren't too flightly to get near them and they'll let us touch them, but they just don't want to venture out of the woods...

Christiaan · #8 08/09/06, 03:07 PM

Sounds like they are very well socialized and even friendly if they allow touching. As stated above, they just like the woods. As soon as they've cleared most of the browse they'll come out to the pasture. Just be prepared to see them eat brush and trees before they head for the grass. They can do a lot of damage to the trees, branches stripped as high as they can reach and brush and saplings will be almost completely eaten. They sure are fun though!

Patt · #9 08/09/06, 03:38 PM

Christiaan is right they are big browsers. Also if it is too warm for them they may be grazing the grass at night or late evening/early morning. Ours do that also. Of course it's 100 here today!
If they let you pet them they should be fine. Older cows are usually better. Heifers can jump fence and take off on you though so it's always better to be safe than sorry.

boyd5212 · #10 08/10/06, 02:26 PM

Whew--you were right...they ventured out into the pasture last evening--after my husband took them some grain, when he was walking away with the empty bucket they followed him!

...and they ventured out into the pasture this morning, so we are relieved they aren't de-socilaizing...because they are so much fun!

phantompark · #11 08/17/06, 08:24 AM

Nice to hear they came out of the woods for you. Ours love the woods. Which we don't have much of. The little we have we let them in for hot weather with access to the pasture. Seems to keep them cool and content.
Their previous home was 1/2 woods they had it stripped bare as far as they could reach. The owner would go out to cut a tree down for firewood and the cows would come a running to eat the leaves from the fallen branches. The roar of the chainsaw!!!! They still do that here. Drooling away. The Jerseys just watch and then go back to grazing.
We don't use grain to entice them but fresh sweet corn stalks or fresh mowed alfalfa.

mailman · #12 08/17/06, 06:41 PM

Just a few months ago I bought 3 pregnant Highlands and let them out onto a 10 acre pasture. 4-strand electric fence. The pasture is mostly wooded and there is only one Jersey on the pasture. I, like you, thought I would never see my wonderful Highlands again. After a few days went by, I decided to flush them out(not an easy task!!), and cut their pasture down to about 3 acres, closer to the barn. Finally I got them trained to come to an area for food and water when I call. I then released them into the full 10 acres. Once they eat their dinner, they go back into the woods sometimes, and sometimes they remain in the grassy area near the house and barn where I can see them. Life is good.