Steer hates to be touched

[SlickTxMaine]

My son has had his steer for close to 3 months now.  He leads good and sets up well.  The problem is that he hates to be touched.  Even just petted.  He also hates to be brushed.  It's like he has super sensitive skin.  It's really weird.  My son will walk him, and he is doing well and behaving and setting up, so my son will reach out and pet him on the shoulder and he will freak out, jump to the side, or kick out.  I even have him set him up and I walk up to touch his side, as a judge will do, and he reacts the same way.  Is there a trick to desensitizing him or will it just take time? 

 

[Honkomp]

This may seem off the wall, but my daughter's steer is pretty wild, so I tried this with him.  I put him in a small stall (10x10) i would lay my hand on him and let trot around in circles.  When He decided to stop I stepped back and turned my back on him until it seemed he had time to relax.  Then I would start over.  In 1/2 an hour I had gotten to the point where I could walk up and pet him and he stayed put.  I would only pet him for a little while and walk away.  The time spent petting increase a little each time.  If he got nervous and started trotting the whole operation began anew. To get him really quiet this operation needed to be done for a couple days in a row.

I have used this with colts to get them halter broke an had some success.  Good Luck.

Honkomp

 

[The Show]

We have a broom handle with a brush on the end, and would tie them up and touch them with it until they get used to it.

 

[SlickTxMaine]

We did the  broom thing in the beginning as he kicked like a SOB anytime you got near him.  He has calmed down a lot, but just seems to hate to be touched.  His steer last year was a big teddy bear and couldn't get enough love-- maybe we are just expecting too much too soon.  We will stay after him and be patient.  Thanks

 

[justme]

Our heifer this year does not like being pet, but doesn't sound like she's as bad as yours.  I feel bad for my son, its his first "big" heifer, and she just doesn't like to be loved on one bit.  I'll be happy when Labor day comes and I can turn our two heifers out to pasture and get new ones.

 

[chambero]

We've had calves that have had different variations of this.  We had one that you flat couldn't use a scotch comb on for months.  Finally got him to where we could use the plastic combs.

Does he hate water being put on him?  If not, take extra time when rinsing and possibly switch to very soft brush till he settles down.  I'd do everything in a chute so that he has to learn to he can't move much.

On setting him up, set him up right next to a fence where he can't move.  But be patient and don't worry when he moves his feet, just get him used to rubbing.

 

[OH Breeder]

I had a person tell me about this trick its worked thus far. Where do cows always seem to try and find a place to rub? They usually are rubbing their butt on something. We've had  calves that were sensitive. Start at the and scratch it length wise up and down. When we are clipping we have one steer that loves to have his tail scratched. Scratch the butt as well. Once you get them liking that you usually can move forward slowly. Give her a shot. I would do it while they are in the shoot.

 

[cowchick14]

I had a steer this year that was pretty much exactly the same, expect rather than a brush, he hated being blown on. He also hated to be touched anywhere near his face, neck or head. All I really did was continue working him and constantly touch his face by his jaw. It is toward the end of this years "showing season" and he has improved a bunch! He still flails around a bit when being blown on, but I think if you continue working with yours, it will get better. Spend a lot of time with him and just take it slow.  Like someone suggested, put em in a chute so that he can't go anywhere and if he kicks, hopefully he gets a bar rather than a person. I wish you the best of luck and hopefully I helped some