Help!!

[pjkjr4]

Long story here, but I'll keep it as short as possible. Last weekend we took our steers to get hooves trimmed. We also took a friend and his boy along with their heifer. When we got there, the heifer needed to be haltered, so my son (10 years old, 70 pounds soaking wet), my friend, and his son went to catch her. My boy (having been around cattle, and knowing their tendencies for the most part) and the rest of us crowded her in a corner so we could get the halter on her. She puts her head down and comes after him, and works him over a little bit in a cable fence until we can get her out of there. He wasn't hurt, other than his left arm was sore for a day or 2, scaring him more than anything. I tried not to make a big deal about it, and we went on and caught her.
Fast forward to today. My son and I go out to catch his and my daughter's steers, so we can worm them. (We've had our steers since April, and my kids mess with their animals alot, so the animals are haltered, lead, washed, etc. by my kids, with only their mother's and my help when necessary.) While he's walking up to halter his steer, the steer tries to come after him (just like the heifer the other day did). Luckily he was able to get away, and I haltered him, no problem. Later on this evening, we go to feed, and he tries the same thing when my wife gets near him. I then go up to him, trying to get him to do that to me....nothing, he turns and walks away. I am a big advocate of making them feel good when we're around, so they associate that with us, but I'm thinking very seriously about letting my wife/daughter/son carry a handheld hotshot in case he tries to do that again. I'm afraid for their safety, but I can't be there all the time, and furthermore, I want this to be our project, and not mine.

Does the hotshot thing sound like it would work? Do you folks have any other ideas?

 

[firesweepranch]

having younger kids myself, I can totally understand your concern :-\  My middle daughter(9) and youngest son (7 in a few days) seem to be targets. We have a few cows that are in no way aggressive, just have a little mean streak to them. They will challenge the kids when we go bring them in for breeding or heat checking, so I have learned to have them carry a stick. When they have the stick, the cows do not even look at them twice, but they seem to know if the kids are not carrying their sticks and will go after them at times. But they only do it to the little kids! I think it is because they are small, and seem like a predator? Not sure, but they are excellent cows other than that. So, not sure about the hot shot, but if they can carry a sorting stick or something strong like that it might work...

 

[rmbcows]

I think I'd definately start with a sorting stick.  If it takes more than a tap on the nose to discourage the steer from coming at them, they probably shouldn't be messing with him.  Animals can sense fear and after the incident with the heifer, I'm sure everyone's a little leery.  Be on the safe side and make sure you're with the kids or your wife when you try to handle this steer.  Realize he's bluffed once and gotten the desired result, he'll more than likely try again, especially with the smaller people.  I'd always have a sorting stick in my hand and if he tries his nonsense again, I wouldn't hesitate letting him know that's unacceptable behavior.  Let the kids do the rinsing, combing etc. when he's tied up and that will give them a chance to get their confidence back.  There's no crime in helping your kids as much as you need to in order to insure their and their calves safety.  They're at the age when they're learning, and if they're scared, they're not going to want to mess with cattle for long.  Good luck!

 

[Jenny]

I have carried a metal scotch comb at times and if they come towards me with their heads a tap on the nose with the sharp ends of the teeth will take care of aggression; then they don't have to check if you have a stick in your hand or not.