Nobody told me - Dehorning cattle

Ian H · Post by **Ian H** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:00 am

Hi everyone.
I had my six heifers dehorned yesterday after much deliberation . The vet gave them all a local anaesthetic, It was bad enough getting them in the crush the first time then we had to bring them round again for the dehorning. Nobody told me that a dexter could clear a 5 ft fence with only a 2 yard run up, Felicity promptly disappeared into the woods. Luckily she did come back on her own as the others were still in the pen and i had a gate into the woods so she bucked and galloped back in when the gate was opened and my dad was cossing behind her as he was stuck in a bramble bush.
I don,t know about the cows being traumatised but i certainly was, but they do look a lot less fierce this morning with no horns even though they are all still sulking, thinking about it they have probably got one hell of a headache.
Regards Ian Hornsby

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:23 am

Yup, Dexters can steeplechase. Years ago my pair of oxen went to Kirkley Hall agricultural college for some training. Typical NE macho males, all thought they knew better than me, who'd bred & reared the animals. So, they were put into the bull pen in the yard but the yard gates were open. I said best to shut all the yard gates. Told no need, nothing could get out of top security bull pen. So my boys promptly did standing jump out of pen, out of yard & 200 acres to explore. I had great satisfaction in saying "told you so" & left the chaps to catch them up again. Tee Hee.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:50 am

Not only can they clear a quite high fence, they can open gates as well. We've got the type with the drop down flap behind the bolt. They will lick that all day sometimes and I'm sure they've managed to open it. I had 5 bulls and 5 steers together, a bunch of wild hooligans, and one day they suddenly disappeared. Gate was wide open. I went all up and down the lane till a bus driver told me they were in a friends garden eating his lawn and plants. Like an idiot, I was so keen to stop them destroying my friends garden, that I shoo'd them out just to miss a car travelling down our tiny country lane at about 40 mph. A very silly ting to do.

Funilly enough, the ringleader was a young bull called Declan, and that is also my friend's name. Anyhow, Declan the bull is coming back in 8 boxes this Friday, and I'm donating part of Declan to Declan as a surprise gift at the weekend.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1197456766

Kathy Millar · Post by **Kathy Millar** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:34 am

I had a young steer who could work the chain off the hook on some of the gates. I've also had a gate lifted off its hinges. The trick I like the best is when they get down on their knees and try to go under a fence or the lower rail in my home made crush. Always fun to see the look on the AI man's face. :laugh:

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:39 am

Hi Ian,
if we told you all of this in the begining your life would be so dull. A life without surprises would be no fun, besides how do you think we found out! :D

Martin.

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:06 pm

Having bought a "proper" Dexter crush - I thought - there we are - done and dusted!

However the other day I wasn't concentrating and my steer went out the out gate turned around and went straight back in, didn't miss a beat, went down on his knees and under the in gate as if he were "poured" under it!!! My face must have been a picture first of shock and fear that he would be stuck followed by relief that he was OK. So he got one over on me.

I had the final laugh though because he is the one that has been getting under the electric fence, so we had him in the crush since and trimmed 6 inches of the top of his neck hair - hay presto he stays the correct side of the fence.

So we are even now.

Stephanie