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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 8:06 pm
by Peter thornton
I have a one year old bull who is beginning to assert himself!
He is no bother in that he never tries to push me, but he sometimes gives me a sort of look and lowers his head slightly!!!!
He's no baby anymore.
As an ex teacher - it's the equivalent of walking into class in September to find that the 14 year olds have suddenly acquired spots and an attitude!
My question is: Should I be friendly with him, give him a few nuts etc and encourage contact - or do I simply aim for mutual respect.
Your thoughts are welcomed.
Peter
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 12:25 pm
by Sylvia
I'm a novice with an 18 month old bull here on sale or return. I'd go for mutual repect every time with indifference thrown in for good measure. I'm certainly not encouraging my lad to think of me at all - I'm happy if he has his full attention on his cows. Of course I don't want to go to shows with him so that might mean a more hands on approach. I have yet to face TB testing with him but we will cross that bridge when it arrives. So far he has moved where we want him to go by calling his cows and letting him go with them.
Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 9:16 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
Peter thornton wrote:I have a one year old bull who is beginning to assert himself!
He is no bother in that he never tries to push me, but he sometimes gives me a sort of look and lowers his head slightly!!!!
He's no baby anymore.
As an ex teacher - it's the equivalent of walking into class in September to find that the 14 year olds have suddenly acquired spots and an attitude!
My question is: Should I be friendly with him, give him a few nuts etc and encourage contact - or do I simply aim for mutual respect.
Your thoughts are welcomed.
Peter
I rather like Sylvia's description of "mutual respect and indifference". I think to a great extent the indifference must come first, when the bull is a calf (not a baby, it never was a baby). Bulls vary greatly in temprament and may turn out good or bad, but if they are brought up to see us as equals or in fact as any sort of being they have to have a relationship with, it is not long before they have to challenge our superiority. Obviously they have to be handled to a certain extent but too much too young does no good - I sometimes wonder if that explains some of the difference in temprament between dairy and beef breeds. I bucket fed one bull calf because I was milk recording his dam and it was a big mistake.I think they should get minimum handling till they are put on a halter, and then best to have a ring in well beforehand so that it is healed and accepted before it is used. Then it must be used only when the halter fails - it is not for catching and leading by itself. Never encourage any unnecessry interaction between any human and the bull at any age , but handle them confidently when it is necessary. Above all do not be afraid - be CAREFULL instead and never forget that he is a bull. Looking at you and lowering the head are fairly harmless - if they do decide to have a go they move like lighning and with little or no warning.
Duncan
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:40 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
Please read the last post here in relation to halter training bulls.
Duncan
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:39 pm
by Louisa Gidney
I agree with the mutual respect, but at the end of the day I'm the herd leader, not the bull. The teenage, head down, aren't I butch stage is one they all go through and I have found pretensions swiftly depressed by a welly boot applied to the nose. DON'T let the youngster think he can intimidate you at this stage. If he actually can, make room in the freezer.
I think it has entered into herd legend, the day I lost my rag & did a Viking style berserker, chasing the bull screaming "stand still you so & so while I hit you". Of course, I never got close enough but he did what he was told afterwards.
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:32 pm
by harrypage
Louisa,
Was you foot in the wellie? I hope not! Violence only breeds violence. Have you tried anger management? - for you not the bull.
Harry
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 8:20 pm
by Jim Taylor
I hope you are joking harrypage
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:09 pm
by catomell
I am also a relatively new bull owner, and I consider myself fortunate to have a fairly placid bull, however, I live by the mantra of "Never Trust a Bull, Never Turn Your Back on Him". I have known people who have made this mistake, and found themselves thrown several feet and sustaining a few injuries. My bull (18 months) does the head down looking at me thing, at which point I generally reprimand him vocally, and I normally hide behind my lead cow, for whom he has a great deal of respect. Alternatively, it works if I put his favourite bucket in front of him so that he can check whether or not I am actually carrying food. When he learns that I am not, he generally moves back to his girls!:)
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:24 am
by Inger
Harrypage, its not violence, its danger prevention. I always carry a polythene pipe with me if I need to enter the bull paddock and I used it if a bull shows any sign of defiance. They must always know who's the boss and a healthy bit of fear of humans, keeps all humans in our family safe. The cows are totally different. We can walk amongst them without fear (except to protect our toes from being stood on). A couple of them will stand and wait for a scratch. But we never attempt to get too familiar with either of our bulls. They're best handled as little as possible. Although our eldest bull is actually very well behaved in the stockyards.
I've noticed that there has been a change in temperament in the older bull, since we bought another bull. The second bull is younger and now that they have established a pecking order, they have both settled down. But the original bull is now always on the alert in case his authority is challenged. This has made him a bit more difficult to handle. Conversely, the younger bull (who always thought too much of himself) is now easier to handle, because the older bull keeps him in line. We always have to be aware of the dynamics of their relationship and be quick to pick up on any tension. But carrying a stick is an absolute neccessity when handling bulls. You have to be able to defend yourself if their mood changes. If they're in a bad mood when you have to handle them, I'd advise leaving them for a bit, until they calm down again. Always keep your safety in mind.