I don't know what part you all like best, but my kids and I really enjoy getting new calves and halter breaking them. We bought three this year straight off their moms. The past couple of weeks they were in a strong pen being weaned but now they are at our place. We put halters on them last night and immediately we found out which ones can take off like rockets. The kids laugh so much when they see their dad and the calf play tug of war. I'm sure I am not the only one that enjoys taming/breaking their new calves. What are some of your favorite memories when it comes to breaking your calves?
Time For Fun - Halter Breaking Time
- Thread starter Sambosu
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CAB
Well-known member
I don't know if I can say that I look forward to breaking calves, but I can say for sure that it sure brings back many, many great & bad memories!! 
kfacres
Well-known member
I can't say I enjoy it... wish I could find somebody young and dumb to do it for me for nothing-- if it wasn't for a potential broken arm...
I remember when I was in middle school, and we'd try to break 600 lb boughten steer calves- two halters- one on each side with me and dad dragging behind... O the days...
I remember when I was in middle school, and we'd try to break 600 lb boughten steer calves- two halters- one on each side with me and dad dragging behind... O the days...
CAB
Well-known member
There have been broken body parts over the years I'll have to admit though I hate to, some were B/C of stupid ol Dad & by Dad, just to be clear, I mean me. I also hate to admit this, there has been a dead calf over the years B/C of the same previously named Dad. Again, stupidity pure & simple. My daughter was like she's going to die & I'm like no she'll settle down & be OK. 10/15 minutes later, quick go get the epinephrine. Too late. Sometimes it would pay to listen to someone smarter than myself. Those are just a couple memories that I am reluctant to share , but can't forget and maybe will save some broken bones & dead calves.
BridgeViewAngus
Member
How are you breaking calves that you are breaking your bones?
kfacres
Well-known member
BridgeViewAngus said:
usually in the 5-600 lb range, and with a rope halter... doesn't take much to break an arm
BridgeViewAngus
Member
I was wondering about your method, I break mine at that size as well.
CAB
Well-known member
Calf jumping a gate and the gate falling on my son. It can happen easy & faster than you think. I wish that it hadn't & I wish that I had, had better facilities back then, but those days are long gone now. Luckily we all survived them!!!
Shorthorns4us
Well-known member
Not my favorite activity at all. I do it a little different-- we tie them up for up to 2 weeks before we even think about leading. Yes that means that I become their waiter. Some calves over the years have been ready for leading after a week. I feed them by hand, water them by hand and then start the "curry comb diplomacy" each day. Pretty soon most of them figure out I'm good-- I bring food, water, clean up poop and brush them. Then we are ready to try to lead in a small pen-- especially to water-- they figure that out real fast-- cooperate with the lady at my head and I get a drink. Then we work our way up to bigger pens and eventually outside the barn in the lots.
I had to break my calves as well as my brothers and sisters when I was in highschool. For some reason I just enjoyed the process more than anything else. My senior year in highschool my dad bought a calf that an individual displayed at a show we were at. The problem was you couldn't get near the calf. The owner said it had been sold 6 times and they all brought the calf back. My dad made a deal with him at the show and we bought him. We had to wait until everyone left to get the calf. We grabbed some loose panels and made a temporary corral/alley that we hooked up to our trailer. We untied the calf and it ran into the trailer. I told my parents show friends that I would have it at the district show in two weeks. No one believed me. I kept the calf in the 20ft stock trailer for one week. While it was in there (with fresh food and water), I had a radio next to the trailer playing constantly. Everyday I would use a show stick to get the halter and tie it up. The showstick was a limb saver. I would rub the calf with the show stick and just talk to the calf about all my girl problems. ;D Long story short, I was able to calm the calf down (except for his kick, fastest kicker I have ever seen) and take it to District. The calf won breed champion main. Fortunately for the judge I saved his life by stopping him from slapping the calf on the butt when he picked the calf. I named the calf Turbo the day I bought him due to his high energy level. Turned out to be one of my tamest calves.
I start walking down the line scratching tailheads when the calves are eating grain (will also try to scratch behind their poll from the front) until I can get them to start standing for it. Most of them will let me scratch them in the pen after a week or so. The ones that won't I put into a small pen and work them with a show stick or broom until I can comb them while they stand. Most of them get pretty gentle and will stand for combing in the pen or even come up to us wanting a scratch. Once I have them to that point, I will slip a halter on them and slip it off and make a game of it, but never pull on it. If they are taking that well, then I go ahead and put on the halter and then start giving them a little tug and if I get a step, give them a scratch. I have had calves leading within a couple days of weaning and have taken up to a week with the wilder ones. I do not tie them up until I have them leading. I will let them drag the halter for a day or so before I ever tie them up. I want them to learn to give to pressure rather than freaking out and making their heads sore.
Someone on here a year or so ago put a halter breaking video from McPeak's "Be a Champ" camp that RFD had on their "Cattle Show" episode. I downloaded that to the hard drive on our home computer. I refer back to it alot. That guy preaches leading before tying as well. It works for us. The main thing he stresses is that there are way too many tame good ones, than trying to mess with the possibly great one that will try to hurt you.
