Runaway Cattle - Advice Please

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:05 pm

Testosterone. Too much of it. Presumably the factors which increase milk yield also increase the aggressive response in the male. No one should be in any doubt, dairy bulls are on average much more dangerous than beef bulls. This does not mean of course that beef bulls are not dangerous.

Somone said that cows with young calves probably posed more danger than bulls and I would aggree. I had to flee for my life from a dairy cow in the collecting pen about a month ago, went straight at me and I managed to side step while she hit the rails, bent a substantial box section rail and took off through rails and a water trough. It took an hour to get her back, and even after put in the crush I could not approach her. The farmer himself could go near with reasonable safety and managed to calve her with me advising from a safe distance. Newly calved cows will frequently attack dogs even though they are ok about people, but the dog often runs to the owner for safety and then the owner gets hurt as well.

Duncan

domsmith · Post by **domsmith** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:43 pm

tomorrow morning, whilst i am rubbing their bellies, i must tell my Ayrshire bulls how dangerous they are!! we have about 35 6-8month old at the moment all with balls and horns, its a good job we dont have a any footpaths.

cows are the danger. i have had angus that would not be happy until you were dead in a ditch. glad they are gone.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:29 pm

Dom, 35 6 month old bulls are a different story from 6 35 month olds. In fairly recent times we had 2 ayrshire bulls on Bute which I could not test. Each year I filled in the test form indicating that they had not been tested because the farmer could not get them into a crush, no-one questioned it. Eventually they were slaughtered.

Duncan

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:35 am

I agree Duncan 6 month old bulls are not much more than young calves. It is when the testosterone kicks in that the fun begins :p There are always exceptions to the rule but in my opinion Don't trust any bull --always keep an eye on them even when with cows. Live safe live long. :D

jeanthomas · Post by **jeanthomas** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:00 am

I agree with you Rob.

Many years ago I came across a basic smallholding book in the library. It contained a chapter on each type of animal you may wish to keep on a holding. In the opening chapter the author emphasised the dangers of keeping bulls/billies/rams/boars/stallions and finally concluded 'never trust anything with testicles'. A motto I fully concur with! :D

Jean

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:28 pm

Well it doesn't apply to alpacas - or my husband. Bless them and him respectively.

jeanthomas · Post by **jeanthomas** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:01 pm

Sylvia,

All I can say is, as yet, I havn't ventured into alpacas!! ???

jean

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:47 pm

What!!!!!!!!!!! does that mean you have met Sylvia's husband :D :D :D :D :D Jean tut tut

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:14 pm

Dammit that's 40 years of mutual trust down the drain. :p

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:48 pm

Goodnes me, I did not know that Alpacas lived for 40 years.

Duncan

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:19 pm

No, you are quite right Duncan they don't, unless you start adding ages together. In fact mid-teens is more likely although the very occasional one makes it past their 20th birthday.

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:32 am

I think that one got away Duncan :D but a good one it was

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:16 am

Our yearling and 2 year old Dexter bulls are way less trouble than some of our heifers. At least the bulls can be tied up. They go through the cattle race with a lot more decorum as well.

And why do calves always feel the need to kneecap you, when you're trying to give them and injection?

I'll take older cows any day. They know the ropes and go on the scales without behaving like you're trying to kill them. I am so glad when the calves finally grow up enough to handle safely in the yards. (I've still got ringing to come this year

Eight bull calves to ring. Joy.

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:54 pm

Why don't you text them Inger Jean can give you text speak lessons :D :D

Joey Baker Cresswell · Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:23 am

As an update on this episode - I agreed with the purchaser that I would take them back. The two that had run were enticed into a shed with other cattle so they were easily collected. They arrived back home, trotted across the field and put their heads straight down so I have no idea what upset them at their new home - maybe they just didn't like South Northumberland! The third is still in the purchasers paddock and we are going to have to use a nurse maid cow to get her into their shed. Don't think I will be selling any youngsters to people without other cattle again! I was thinking about putting them to a little Welsh Black bull who belongs to a friend as the reason for selling them was that they are daughters and granddaughters of my two bulls - has anyone ever used a Welsh Black on Dexters (they are non-short)?