The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: Rosemary on January 15, 2012, 10:10:57 pm
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Henry is our Shetland bullock. As he's destined for the freezer, I wouldn't have named him but he came with the moniker. He was very good to transport down from Aberdeen, but because he's been outside all the time (unlike our two heifers who were inside for six months after we got them), he hasn't had much handling. Almost none in fact.
But we did need to worm and fluke the three of them. The flukicide was easy - in some Buttercup calf crunch and that was that. They didn't fancy the wormer though. Blizzard ate hers but Breeze wouldn't and Henry won't even eat undoctored food. So, what to do? We have a Heath Robinson "crush" in the byre but Dan said it was time he was halter trained anyway ::)
Breeze was wormed by haltering her and squirting the wormer over her throat. Same for Henry, but we had to get a halter on him first. The heifers looked on and moo'd encouragingly as Dan held Henry by his little horns and I slipped the halter on. We tied him up for 10 minutes, gave him a good scratch, gave him the wormer and fed him some hay, which he munched quite happily. Then we untied him and I walked him (not very tidily to be fair) around the pen.
Not bad for a first attempt, we thought. He's a wee star - we'll have to keep practicing now, if he hasn't taken the huff completely.
Henry's halter training (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQkwNeqsMlc#ws)
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He's a looker ;) ;D
I was expecting bucking bronco antics Rosemary :o He looks like he's getting the hang of it and enjoying the scratching & encouragement ;)
I think you're probably braver than me ::) ;)
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Looking good! What a sweetie! Did you use 'pressure and release'?
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Looking good! What a sweetie! Did you use 'pressure and release'?
Yes - although it was a much speeded up process than with the heifers. I spent hours with them ::)
Henry had them to see though so maybe that helped. I was trying to maintain pressure on the halter but as soon as he "gave", I released it as a reward.
The proof of the pudding will be how he is today. He might just watch me from the other side of the field. ;D
Lesson learned though - Breeze and Blizzard's calves will be on halters the first week.
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Henry really is a grand lad, you did amazingly well with him. Loved the girls watching on. :thumbsup:
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Why can't I see the photo?
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Why can't I see the photo?
It's not a photo, it's a video. If you're internet browser doesn't have a flash player (or similar) you won't be able to view it. I think....but Dan's bound to know more than me ;)
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but Dan's bound to know more than me ;)
Nope, you're spot on. ;D
Chicken Lady, if you can't see it but can usually see YouTube videos please try viewing it on YouTube here:
Henry's halter training (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQkwNeqsMlc#ws)
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ahh hes nice. looks very gud for his first time. my heifers were quite feisty at first, trying to dodge the feet and horns when ur brain is trained for ponies was a learning experience! where did u get him from?
:wave: :wave:
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Thanks Dan. Got it now. I should have started earlier with my highlands. Only 3 out of 5 have ever had a halter on.
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ahh hes nice. looks very gud for his first time. my heifers were quite feisty at first, trying to dodge the feet and horns when ur brain is trained for ponies was a learning experience! where did u get him from?
:wave: :wave:
He's lovely - we bought him from Paddy Zakaria. I think he's by Gillarunna Nocturne. Until this week, I could barely get a hand on him but he's grand now. Will try the halter again tomorrow.
Chicken Lady - Breeze and Blizzard's calves will be halter trained from birth :)