Fighting cows

[Karen in Alabam]

This past week we sold Ricky Bobby--year old bull and sent Dudley (2ish year old Jersey bull) home--he was a brat--they immediately had him de-horned.

Anyway

This morning everything was going great (have a new cow on the farm too with some health issues we are working through--but she is a sweetheart and getting along great with everyone). I have been milking her and Liza (as we finally sent her calf to my sister's for weaning)

I am finishing up milking Sissy (she is the one whose milk is turning really fast--and at the end of her lactation). I had gotten her down to once a day and tomorrow will probably be the last day for milking.

We had rearranged our barn and I was sending Sissy out the chute. Charlie our Charolais cow was at the other end wanting to get in. I shewed her out a few times. So I get Sissy to go out and Charlie comes rushing up the chute and sends Sissy back over my foot.

I get mad and yell at her to get out and so she does and once Sissy is out she goes at her. The two of them were pushing at each other for quite some time. My sister saw them even later having at it.

At first I thought it was because I yelled at Charlie---she does not like to be told what to do. If she gets out and I try to make her go back in she huffs and will try to knock over a tree. (she is 2 1/2)

Then I got to thinking. Could this be because there are no real bulls in the herd? I have Bones who is a steer, and Stevie who is only 7 months old.

Are they vying for a pecking order or is Charlie just a brat.

Neither one of them are the Matriarchs. Yo (who is 9) and Lucy (who is 4) are the bosses.

[linn]

My guess is they are testing who will be head cow. We have this happen every time we put a cow in with the herd, even if she has been just across the fence from the others.

[Jennifer L.]

Yes, it's just establishing a new pecking order. Won't take long to settle down.