Getting a halter off

[bja105]

I got two calves this winter, a steer and a heifer. They were 300 pounds in February, a little bigger now. The steer is very friendly, it was easy to take off the halter. The heifer won't let us get close. I have to get hat halter off before she grows much more.

Two options I can think of. One, build the corral I need anyway, lock her in, and catch her. My neighbor's teen sons are good at wrestling cattle, and would love to help. I need the corral, but here is so much to do, I wanted to wait on other projects getting done.

Option two, let my neighbor use his tranquilizer gun. Last time, he killed his sheep with it.

Any other ideas? Its not a crisis yet, the halter is not digging in.

Thanks
Jason

[cowkeeper]

If you keep cattle (even two) you must have a handling facility. Build that corral, make it very sturdy and tall enough. Leave it open and put the salt lick and mineral in there so they get comfortable with hanging out there. Put down a bit of sweet feed or other treat and soon they will be looking for you and the treat. Ideally the corral would funnel into a narrow chute so you would not need to resort to rodeo tactics at any time. Slow and steady is the way to have cattle that you can handle when necessary. Start now with that corral.ck

[G. Seddon]

Cowkeeper offers good advice! Emphasis on the slow and steady. Keep the wrestlers out of there and don't bother with the tranquilizer gun.

Corral panels are very versatile and very portable and can make a small pen, an alley, virtually any configuration needed. There will always be a use for them; they're a good investment on any livestock operation.

[unregistered41671]

If you're gonna keep animals that are bigger and stronger than you, not to mention faster, build or buy some type of restraint system. It protects you and them. You will need one sooner than later. Animals need doctoring every now and then.