have you halter trained?

[elgordo]

This is my first year working with cattle. I bought a pregnant dexter who gave birth to a heifer in late april. I bought a halter for the calf (Maggie) and I am storing it in the grain so it smells "good". I haven't tried to get it on her yet, I'm just letting her get used to its taste/texture. Does anyone have any advice when it comes to halter training? I can touch her all overt when shes in her grain bucket but she's still shy if you walk right up to her.
Thanks!

[copperhead46]

I put the halter on mine as soon as possible. I just let them drag the rope around for a few day, (yes, you have to keep an eye on them). After a few days of feeling the pull when they step on the rope, I get ahold of it while they are eating and start holding them for me to pet a little bit. After a few days, they will learn to stand while you hold the rope and I tie them to a good stout post and let them learn to stand tied. Keep lots of patience about you and maybe a few small treats too.
P.J.

[sammyd]

We do not have a brood cow so our set up may be different from yours.
Last year we tethered our calves during the day and put them in the shed at night so we were working with them from about the 2nd month. We put halters on as soon as we can.
This year we tethered them to movable hutches and they learn from pulling on the cable.
They aren't quite as easily lead this way but our shed is full of goats this year so we had to come up with a "plan b".
The old way they are usually pretty docile and we can lead an 18 month old steer or heifer anywhere without a big hassle.

[francismilker]

Tie them up to a good sturdy fence at 18 inches off the ground with 18 inches of rope length. This will allow them to stand or lay down without giving them enough to get tangled up in. I usually leave them there in the shade for several hours a day until they get to the point they are no longer fighting the tension on the rope and freaking out when I approach them. Once they get to this point, I just try leading them to water and/or feed once they are untied. During this entire process I leave them penned up in a corral so they're easy to catch and they can drag a lead rope around on the ground and step on it enough times to get their nose good and sore. Some take longer than others but it usually works pretty good within a week. Just remember, once you get them tied up to the fence, walk off and leave them. Don't hang around and jack with them to try and get this accomplished in one day. This takes time, patience, and a lot of calm words. Bovine don't usually take real well to the rodeo way of gentling. Just take a look at them out the kitchen window every hour or so to make sure they're not tangled or in trouble. After they've stood all day without water and feed, the ball's in your court.....

[tailwagging]

I tied my bull calf (when he was 6 months) to the back of the golf cart and kinda pulled him around.

[tyezarate]

This might help you.

http://www.24-7agtv.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_seyret&task=videodirectlink&Itemid=1&id=54