Help need steer charmer

[reno1014]

I had your same problem not too long ago.  I posted here and the info helped.  What helped the most was a nose ring and
a long haul to a show.  The nose ring gives you brakes and power steering, and the long haul to a show (wether you actually show him or not)
helps get them used to being messed with.  Our calf was 800 lbs (which I didnt know then) and there was no way I could keep him from
running off on me.  Once they do it and get away, they will ALWAYS try it.  I didnt want to do the nose ring but it was either that or
a very expensive steak dinner.

 

[farmboy]

what effect does the nose ring have over a calf that gives you more control?  <cowboy>

 

[reno1014]

We use a rope halter and a snap for the nose ring with its own short lead.  If the calf tries to break and run we pull on the nose ring rope just enough to get
there head back up and it hinders him from running off.  I am not sure what you mean by effect, but it works.  We dont even use it anymore, and we only
had it for a month.  The calf it now totally different than he was before. 

 

[kanshow]

Oh I hate these kind...    Show starts tomorrow and my son's previously nice heifer decided yesterday to be this way.  She is either stopped or tries to put her head down and go.  I  suspect she is probably coming in heat but my oh my..   

 

[fluffer]

  (welcome) & try a donkey .

I've heard about using a donkey, but have never seen it done.  How do you attach them to the donkey?  How long do you leave them there? 

I have a thick collar, kind of an old style neck tie, or I also have hobbles- which I lilke the best bc they have a leather patch over the buckle which is probably a little more confortable for the donkey.  I put the "collar" on the donkey- not tight, but not so loose the donkey can slip it over his ears.  I put the calf in a squeeze chute (if possible) or put a nylon halter on him and then rope halter over that and tie him up with the rope halter, get your donkey next to your calf, attach them with a 2 foot rope that has snaps on both ends (one on the doney and one the nylon halter)  then let the calf out of the cute or untie him and take the rope halter off.  I generaly keep them together in their own pen that is as obstical free as possible for at least a week.  No feed, just hay (or grass) and water  Go out and pet on the donkey and calf, if the calf isn't "tame".  Sometimes if your donkey is leadable I will lead him around and that makes the calf walk too if your donkey can pull the calf.  Some donkeys are too small to pull the calf, but they can still get them broke.  My donkey works really welll, he likes to bite on the halter and jerk the calfs head around.  That usually gets them over being head shy pretty quick.  And it depends on the size and strenght of the donkey as to how big of a calf they can handle.  And make sure you keep your donkeys hooves trimmed up.  I hate it when I see a donkey being used to break a calf when the donkeyis on ski hooves.  We are the "calf breakers".  Not sure how, but we always have a ton of people call in the winter time just after weigh ins asking if we can break their steer.  Only had 1 that could not be broke.

Fluffer

 

[farmboy]

i mean what gives you more control over a calf with a nose ring then a halter?

 

[shortyjock89]

It's like when someone grabs ahold of your ear and pulls.  Usually you're going to follow them.  That, or pinch the inside of your nose and see how easy it is to pull against it.  Now imagine that with a pressure behind your ears pulling on you.

 

[reno1014]

i mean what gives you more control over a calf with a nose ring then a halter?

The nose is very sensitive just put your fingers up there and pinch....it feels bad.

 

[reno1014]

Let me just add, when we first got our steer...he was kinda freaky, we halter broke him within a week and thought we were on our way (this was just too easy).  The steer probably weighed around 600lbs when we brought him home.
He was doing great and then one day I guess he woke up and decided he didnt want to be a show steer anymore.  By then he weighed around 800lbs.
There was no way to hang on although I tried hard!  If you have ever been drug through cow manure and got it up your nose and mouth you wont try
to hang on so hard anymore and its hard to keep those colorful words from spilling out.  Frustration is what drove me to the nose ring.  If I could I would
put one in my 16year olds nose too!

 

[farmboy]

It's like when someone grabs ahold of your ear and pulls.  Usually you're going to follow them.  That, or pinch the inside of your nose and see how easy it is to pull against it.  Now imagine that with a pressure behind your ears pulling on you.

i see... i might need to get one to break the jumper

 

[shortyjock89]

I would try a snub first.  We have used them on steers that were snot heads.