Hi, been busy with epileptic dog for nearly a week so only just read this thread! Halter train from as young as possible if possible. This is regarding the comment 'Must have a crush'.
Yes, with regards to feet trimming if do. All my cretins, the females originated from the same dairy farm and are all red Hereford X. Due to them being off Ayrshire x Jersey mums, all are red, 2 favour the Hereford sire regarding colour and markings and the other 2, half sisters on the mums side take after the mum having black tiger stripes!!
Anyhow, all but Juniper are halter trained (She came when 14 months old) but all will tie, including this year's calves! TB test this year, Juniper tied in the alley (bottom of shed between 2 gates) all others headcollars on and tied to a gate. Vet surprised and didn't mind. The farm the girls came off actually tie all their dairies up and vet goes from cow to cow.
It all depends on the vet. I had a vet come here for a tb test several years ago to test 2 Brown Swiss bullocks and he visibly recoiled when he saw that he had to stand next to them even though there was a gate between them!
Yes, I understand cattle can be jumpy, even the quiet ones but it is also how you handle from the beginning.
Not only that but the way our shed is set up we can't get a crush in.