We all know why the chicken crossed the road...

iloveafarmer · #1 03/26/08, 02:28 PM

but how do you get a cow to cross? We have a very small herd of Angus, 2 momma cows, 2 almost 2yr olds (both bred heifers) and 2 7mo olds (1 heifer, 1 bull). Here's the problem. Spot (momma cow) is a very spirited Angus, she dances for her food and can be a real pest, at other times a menace. Both of her offspring (1 bred heifer and baby heifer) will NOT cross over our driveway to the other pasture. We've got two 12 ft gates that swing out to meet each other and use corral panels on the other side when it's time to move them so it's not like they have to go through a chute of something. Once their hooves touch the gravel, even though it's well packed down and doesn't shift at all, that's it, they won't go another inch. We've tried putting down straw or shavings across the driveway to cushion or disguise it, we've tried using "cow treats" like ears of corn, we've tried penning them in a small area in the one field right next to the gate opening so all the good food is on the other side, and a friend even tried forcing them across (he forced one right through the fence back into the old pasture), nothing works. DH is of the opinion they just need to all go to freezer camp, I'm thinking of trying to get them to the sale barn somehow, but we both know we won't keep Spot after she calves this year. Any wisdom out there for us, we're just chicken farmers who want to be real farmers. Thanks,

Judy

darbyfamily · #2 03/26/08, 02:30 PM

No ideas to help you but I think its quite amusing...at least from my chair down here in Kansas :LOL:

**gone-a-milkin** · #3 03/26/08, 02:47 PM

Find someone with a working cowdog to come and do it...its amazing how cattle respond to a stockdog. I bet that after one time, they would be trained.

ksfarmer · #4 03/26/08, 05:45 PM

At one time we had to travel 3/4 mile down a road and cross a small wood bridge to and from summer pasture. If we put a rope on the boss cow and drug her across, the rest would follow. Tied the rope onto the pickup to lead her with.

Dexter_Cattle · #5 03/26/08, 08:46 PM

Boy I don't know. Ours have to cross the driveway. The first day it took about 35 minutes. Now, they think they are really getting a deal by getting "out".

Now we open the gate and they run out.