Daughter's Steer tries to take her ... any quick fixes?

[Honkomp]

My daughter is in her second year (11 years old) of showing 4-H Steers.  We have a Charolais/Angus cross this year.  He is gentle as a pup with me but when she is feeding he like to chase her out of the pen.  She is so scared of him she is afraid to lead him and not interested in showing him.  What can I do with the steer? Or the girl?  We have 2.5 weeks until show.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Honkomp

 

[DL]

My daughter is in her second year (11 years old) of showing 4-H Steers.  We have a Charolais/Angus cross this year.  He is gentle as a pup with me but when she is feeding he like to chase her out of the pen.  She is so scared of him she is afraid to lead him and not interested in showing him.  What can I do with the steer? Or the girl?  We have 2.5 weeks until show.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Honkomp

Ship the steer - the kid is afraid and the steer knows it - she doesn't want to lead the steer and doesn't want to show it.  If she has a bad experience she will never want to show again - it aint worth it - ship the steer

 

[Aussie]

Yep I agree with DL. Sad when you put so much work in but you need to slowly build your childs confidence again with a quite animal.

 

[dutch pride]

Agreed; not enough time for her and the steer to build up some trust so they can work together. Also maybe not the best idea to be in the pen when feeding, some steer will let nothing get in the way between them and their meal. I more time I might suggest tieng the steer, then put feed in pan and then lead steer to the food.

DLZ

 

[elliottcattleco]

If you were able to find someone with a breaking donkey, it might be worth a try before you shipped him. Usually about 24 hrs. on a donkey will take the starch out of alot of unruly cattle. If he's fairly gentle with you it could work. Another option would be a "Big Jim" breaking halter. Sullivan Supply carries them. In the past we've had success with either of these methods. Used correctly the breaking halter will let him know real quick that your daughter is in control and he is not!

 

[mark tenenbaum]

I agree -ship him: a donkey will keep one from standing when you pull on the halter strap: but wont stop an animal from charging forward at a small target like a young kid. O0

 

[Gators Rule]

how long has your daughter been feeding this calf?

 

[farmboy]

Don't ship him, man up and break the calf and show it.

 

[Aussie]

Don't ship him, man up and break the calf and show it.

Hell yer thats great advice Zach. Send a kid who is scared of an animal to a show with an steer that knows it has the upper hand. Nothing can go wrong there. 

 

[chambero]

You have to fix the calf and kid when the calf is 400 lbs, not 1200.  I have a 12 yr old and 9 year old that shows.  Make the kid feed when the calf is a baby.  And the kid has to learn to appropriately be "in charge".  Never let a kid hurt a calf, but if a calf gets aggressive, the kid has to "bop" them on the nose or such.  Again, you are way too late now

 

[willow]

As I am sure you are aware some cattle have a thing for little people.  I am not sure there is much you can do about that kind of behavior it just seems like it is part of the thread that makes them what they are.  We have had a couple like that and their mothers were the same way.  Best of luck and go with your gut.

 

[knabe]

As I am sure you are aware some cattle have a thing for little people.

might just be survival instinct exerting itself, that's why chambero's comment is relevant.

 

[CAB]

I almost hate to comment on this thread B/C some will construe what I am saying as abusive to the calf. When our middle daughter was 9 her first steer did the same thing as what you are saying your daughter's calf is doing. It never would bother me and was very well broke, but he had figured out that he could do as he pleased with our daughter. As Chambero indicated in his post you need to "bop" the calf on the nose to get his attention and to let him know that there is going to be a change in it's behavior. I found a short piece of pipe approx. 18 inches long so that Brooke could easily handle the pipe and told her that when he began to show signs that he was going to "take" her that she needed to "bop" him on he nose. Not wind up and go for the bleachers, but enough that he knew she was serious about taking control of the situation. I think that she really only had to do it to him one time and it was over. Now I am not saying that this will work for your daughter B/C I don't know your daughter. Some kids will be able to and some won't depending on their own personal cattle skills and their fear level. Like I stated this calf was dead broke and had just been allowed to pactice bad habits and needed adjusting IMO. It worked well in our case many years ago, but you'll have to decide if your daughter will be able to teach the lesson or if it will hurt her for future projects. Please be cautious on the side of safety. Good luck.

 

[Honkomp]

Thank you all for your input.  My wife and I have made an appointment at the locker.  I changed his name to "Freezer Filler" and this one won't make it to the fair grounds.  We are trying to get Madison over her fear of this one to hope for a better future. Mostly getting her to get close enough to pet the animal, and sit with him when he is eating.

Every one of your posts is appreciated and I thank you all!

Jeff

 

[lightnin4]

Thank you all for your input.  My wife and I have made an appointment at the locker.  I changed his name to "Freezer Filler" and this one won't make it to the fair grounds.  We are trying to get Madison over her fear of this one to hope for a better future. Mostly getting her to get close enough to pet the animal, and sit with him when he is eating.

Every one of your posts is appreciated and I thank you all!

Jeff

Good choice IMO!  Better to err on the side of caution than to risk getting your daughter hurt or, at best, too scared to show again.  Start early next year and make sure she works with the calf alot when it's small.  Let her know that they all won't try to get her and wish her luck next year! (thumbsup)

 

[KDM]

I think before I sent him to the locker; I would put a nose ring in him and see if that will help.  I have a little girl showing and I put one in every steer we put on feed. It makes a big difference for a little one.

 

[farmboy]

They have to learn sometime. 

 

[Gators Rule]

smart move!   Hind sight is always 20/20....but in the future, get your daughter involved in the breaking of her calves at the outset, not when the calf weighs a half ton.   IMO, if a child isn't old or big enough to help break the calf, then it's too early for them to be showing a calf.    I'm not saying they have to do it by themself, but at least be involved when the calf is first purchased.  

...and whomever said "man up" needs to quit giving advice when a topic regards safety and young children.

 

[LLBUX]

I had a steer this year that always kept his head up looking for trouble.  I broke him to lead and had washed and clipped him a few times.  I thought his troubles were over and then one day he turned on me while I led him back in after a bath. 
I barely got the rope through the hole in the feedbunk when he snorted and turned on me.    Luckily I pulled the rope while backing out and snubbed him to the feeder.  It was just too close. 
He went to the locker on the next available kill day and I have had no regrets.  My young son's health(as is your child's)

Take no chances.

 

[CAB]

For next year's project, ask the seller for his input as to which calves would be good for a beginner. We always have a good idea of which of our calves are going to be sweethearts and some that will take a little more experienced showman to handle. If they are around the calves like they need to be, the seller will pretty much know which calves will work for your daughter. Good luck.