Question about cow halters?

[masawyer]

We have an adult holstein cow that is three years old. We don't have enough land to fence in so we will be staking her. So we were wondering what kind of halter would work best for her?

Thanks,

Marsha in OK

[topside1]

A cow halter would work best..Where is she staying now? Topside

[goodhors]

I wouldn't use a cow halter with a chain chin. They keep tightening with the pull. I have seen some halter chains get snagged in the ring and not release when the cow backed off pulling. Cow gets no reward for "giving" to pressure, might even get choked around the nose.

I like the nylon halters that make an X under the jaw, with a big ring to clip the lead to. They are both strong and fit on cattle very nicely. I got mine at a local Farm store or you can find them on Ebay. Valhoma makes a nice one. They do stay on well, even with head rubbing.

I would practice her coming when called, in case she gets loose during stake out time. She gets a reward EVERY time she comes. Could be a few alfalfa pellets, apple core, some grain. Cows learn fast that you (or family) ALWAYS give treats for coming, and you want to be able to get her ANYPLACE, ANYTIME, halter her up, should the situation ever happen.

I would make sure cow knows how to tie well, before staking her out. Have her spend several days getting used to being tied short, giving to the rope, before trying her with a longer rope. You also might want to run the chain or rope thru a garden hose to prevent her getting rope burned or cut legs. I found that a longer rope-in-hose seemed to get less tangled around hooves and legs, than shorter ropes. At least 30ft, and longer still would be better.

I used a ground stake we made out of rebar and welded a couple chain links to, for staking out the horse (after MUCH training time). I pounded the top into the ground, so rope didn't ever snag on it, no danger of animal stepping on it. Worked pretty well, went in easy and with rope so low, less chance of rope burns.

[masawyer]

Thank you both for responding.

Topside1 she currently is in our barn until after she freshens.

goodhors thanks for the advice about practicing tying her up before we stake her outside. We do use alfalfa pellets to get them to come has worked great for our beef calf.

Thanks again,

Marsha in OK

[JulieLou42]

The way I tethered mine was to pound two crowbars into the ground 50 feet apart with a 50ft 1/4" steel cable attached to each of them. The cow was haltered, of course, and had about a 25ft heavy chain attached to that, with swivel clips on each end so that she'd not tangle up the chain. which will happen if the swivel clips aren't used. Worked really well. She could stay about two days on that spot, then I'd move her to the adjacent spot. I had it so that the grazed grass made a square pattern and kept her water tub[ in a 24" square box made of a few 2x4s] in the inside diagonal corners of the grazing pattern at the length of her chain so that she'd not tip it over and so that that didn't have to be moved so much. She was never injured by the chain at all.

[topside1]

You can find one on the internet or at a well stocked feed store...Topside

[lakeportfarms]

I'd use a Clinton Anderson rope halter. They have knots at pressure points and they can be left on for longer periods of time. They're made for horses but they work very well on our cows.

They are expensive but much better quality than other rope halters out there. Sorry I can't help you with the size, but on our Dexters the "A" size works for most of the mature cows.

[masawyer]

Thanks for all of the responses!!

Marsha in OK

[tinknal]

I've used a single hobble on a chain. Worked quite well.