Halter training

[FreeRanger]

So what's everyones experience training heifers to halters.

How old is too old to train?
Any tips on how to do this?

I have three Dexters we are working with.

What should we read up on?

thanks

Free

[sammyd]

The oldest we have started was around 4 months. We usually have a halter on them within a couple of weeks and after weaning we work with them daily.

Get one on them, tie them to something immovable and let them learn they can't pull away. Grab the halter daily and see if you can move them around while they're still tehtered.

[sungirl]

The biggest mistake anyone can do is force a halter on a cow. Make it a good thing. MY way is to put the halter over the grain pail, so they have to stick their head into it. They will get used to wearing it at feeding times, then leave it on 24/7. When I do lead training, we tie them to the back of a quad and drive slowly. They learn fast, some slower then others.

Patty.

[topside1]

Another tip is to put the halter on at the youngest age possible. I buy pony halters and burn in extra strap adjustment holes and fit to size. My heifers are wearing halters around 2 months of age....Topside

[cur huntin' kid]

I am at Ohio State ATI and we are breaking 8 month old angus cross heifers now and they do this every year. First we run them through the chute and put halters on them. then they are left for a few days with the halter on. They are confined and closely watched. Thats as far as we have gotten until tomorrow. But I would suggest staring when they are young and little. I have also heard of using a donkey to break them. You halter the calf and tie a rope around the donkeys neck and let the donkey drag the calf around.

[tammyd]

I read in a book once that you should put halters on them and hook 2 together. Let them train themselves. Never tried that one though.

[.netDude]

What should we read up on?

Drew Conroy - Oxen a teamsters guide.

http://www.amazon.com/Oxen-Teamsters..._tdp_sv_edpp_t

[francismilker]

The beef heifers my daughter halter brakes are usually 8 months old before we start them. We usually wrestle a haltar onto them and tie them to something solid for a while. Once their nose gets good and sore, they'll usually lead to water for you. I think the key is to realize it's not going to happen in a day's time. We only work with them for about 10 minutes a day and usually within a week or so, they're doing about what she wants them to.

Just tie them to something solid and let them stand there in the shade all day. Don't give them over 18" of play and don't tie them over 18" high. This will allow them to lay down but should keep them from getting tangled up in the rope during the fight they put up initially. Keep a watchful eye on them from a distance in case they get into trouble and then go out there that evening and lead them to water. Next morning repeat. Next morning repeat. Before you know it, they'll be leading.

BTW, she trained a two year old Ayshire cow that we got last week to lead in about four evenings. (It weighs close to 1000lbs. She weighs close to 100lbs.) By me saying trained means that she can lead them in and out of an enclosed stock trailer. She can tie them to the post and pick up there feet like a horse for an occasional hoof nipping. And, she can tie them to a post and give them a good bath before a show.

It's not about how strong you are or how much you can man handle them. It's about how you do it and your patience level. Don't get me wrong, there's times that she has to yell over at the blue heeler/australian shepherd cross and say, "get em movin Clover". And then, by natural instinct, the 40lb. dog get's em movin'. It only takes a couple of times for the animal to balk and plant their feet for them to get to know Clover. Usually, their experience with the cow dog is less than pleasureable so they decide the girl's gentle technique is worth buying in to.

[bulldog]

I've just started my first cow, she is now 3 months old and takes about a half mile walk with me and my dog every day. I got her when she was 5 days, and put a halter on her as soon as she seemed settled in to her new surroundings. The key to halter training horses is not pressure but release. When you pull on the halter, you do not release pressure until they take a step forward. Then you release IMMEDIATELY! It only takes a few times if you get your release timed right for them understand what you want. Animals want to be comfortable. They will do whatever it takes to get comfortable. So if they learn that their face is uncomfortable until they move, then you would be surprised how fast they will do it. Cows do seem allot less reactive than horses though!! And you may be thinking that you will only ever get one step at a time with this approach, so I usually have my hubby walk along behind(by out of kicking range) and just give a Little push in the rear once they understand how to get rid of the pressure. He never keeps the pressure on them though, or even his hand, as they will start leaning into him. My little lineback Jersey cross leads great, right down the road, you should see the looks we get!!

[topside1]

Bulldog, send us a photo if you get the time....topside

[FreeRanger]

thanks for all the answers....I guess I can let out that the heifers are Dexters with ages of 11 months, 9 months and 7 months. Sounds like we are not crazy for trying this.

I had a local auctioneer visiting the farm on Saturday. He estimated weights of 450, 400 and 250 which I questioned because we only paid $200 each for a total of $600 delivered last Monday. So VERY good deal, even if we decided to eat one of them. I would have guessed weights of 300, 225 and 150 but what do I know?

We did have a concern about the middle one being too timid. It always buries it's head under the other two. While the little one and the big one are watching you, the middle one has it''s tail facing you at all times. We seem to have broke that a litttle by putting a halter on the little one. Then we seperated all three from each other, but the middle and big could see each other. The middle one was extremely stressed by this so we only did it for a few minutes. We now see less of her rear end, so that might have got her attention.

the youngest seems to be the least afraid of us, so we are focusing on halter training her. I don't yet have the facilities to tie the big one up outside on grass. It's getting too late in the year for that anyway. So might have to just tie her up near hay but with no water until the end of the day. Problem is I do have a day job four days a week and DW is intimidated by the big heifer. Can't blame her, she did step on my foot Saturday and it hurt. She missed my steeltoes and landed on the side of my leather boot with no protection. I am fine but if I were to bruise, the side of my foot would be purple today.

Time for the DW to get some real farm boots with steel toes.

Thanks again.

PS, DW is finally trolling this forum. I will have to get her an account soon.