Bull loading question

[Rocktown Gal]

Saturday, Arkle was suppose to go to another farm to perform his services...this is not his first time...Arkle refuses to get penned for some reason. We usually put him in the loading pen and then load onto the trailer...he is not having any of it this time...not sure what is going on...and wanted some thoughts on this matter...has he decided that he is just not going to do it...seems like he was spooked or something...not sure...but we have tried from Friday nite till yesterday and he will not go in the pen.

TIA

[Rocktown Gal]

I just called the lady and told them we were not letting him go. Seems to me that if we did get him loaded and then when they bring him back and have trouble again we may end up pay bills due to damage and I ain't letting that happen.

He already broke our fence and bent one of our gate all to the devil.

[allenslabs]

Probably a good idea really. Might be karma or something of that nature stepping in. LOL!

[Rocktown Gal]

Originally Posted by allenslabs

Probably a good idea really. Might be karma or something of that nature stepping in. LOL!

Exactly!

[SCRancher]

I'm all in favor of a closed herd - never know that those "other girls" might be carrying.

Might be for the best.

[mozarkian]

Maybe he thinks its a one way trip this time (as in butcher-bound!)LOL

[bigbluegrass]

I have a neighbor who puts the trailer in the bulls pen and then feeds the bull in it with a bit of sweet feed or something for a week or however long it takes the bull to get used to being in the trailer and getting in and out of the trailer. He calls it "breaking him to a trailer". He did that to my bull, but I haven't had the bull back on a trailer since then, so I can't say if it worked or if it was a waste of feed and time. Just an idea. Might be something to try if you have to get him in the trailer and sooner or later you probably will for something.

[francismilker]

I'd just about bet if you put a pretty little heifer about 15 months old in that loading pen he'd be more than happy to go in there!

[MO_cows]

This would be strike one for this bull. He refused to do something and got away with it. He may push it even harder the next time.

We regularaly treat our cattle with a little sweet feed in the same pen we work them out of. When it comes time to work them or load them out, they have NO problem going into that pen. The fly rub is also at the entrance. It's a happy place. Maybe a strategy like that would work to train your bull and make him more manageable.

[Rocktown Gal]

Originally Posted by francismilker

I'd just about bet if you put a pretty little heifer about 15 months old in that loading pen he'd be more than happy to go in there!

We had a heifer in with him...then we took the heifer out and that is when he decided to go after the gate and when that didn't work jumped over the fence. Never knew a 2000 lb bull could jump so high.

[G. Seddon]

Rocktown Gal, a 2000# Highland bull? Is that a normal mature weight for them? I guess I thought they were much smaller than that.

[Rocktown Gal]

A mature highland bull is 1800 lbs. I rounded it off...as he seems around 2000 lbs to me. Arkle is 11 years old.

[G. Seddon]

Thanks, Rocktown Gal. Not sure why I thought they were smaller. We don't see many Highlands around here. You should post a photo of Arkle.

[Rocktown Gal]

http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/a..._6960129_n.jpg

Had picture on another thread

[G. Seddon]

Lot of bull there, with a lot of horn! Yes, I see where he could easily be 1800# or so. He appears to have been clipped on the upper half anyway. Do you ever clip them?

[Rocktown Gal]

No, we have never clipped him

[SCRancher]

Nice looking bull there!

[Rocktown Gal]

Thanks SCRancher