Bully!!

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:52 pm

I have two, two year old heifers that have always run together with no problems. I had to split them up a few days ago when Pumpkin filled with milk ready to calve and little heif was pinching the milk. Pumpkin calved three days ago and is a lovely mum but both her and Little Heif spend ages wandering up and down the fence together so today we decided to let little heif into the yard and grass area Pumpkin and calf are inhabiting. To start with all was fine with the calf getting a good licking from both ''mums'' but I then cought Little heif pushing her around and head butting her into the side of the shed (the calf is fine). I have put Little heif back with the sheep but neither her or Pumpkin are happy with the arrangement does anyone have any idea how to sort this out - have I just tried too early?

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 5:07 pm

Out in a field with plenty of room I think you can play the "let them sort it out themselves" card for quite a while, and they almost always will. In enclosed pens it can be a different story as there is no room to avoid one another in a civilised fashion, and I have had to separate some of mine which I would rather had been penned together.

Duncan

Kathy Millar · Post by **Kathy Millar** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:34 am

I find that the steers may try to mount the new calf so I have to separate them until the calf is quicker on her feet. I find that I can usually just have a good fence inbetween so aside from a bit of noise (sort of like weaning them all over again!), they are usually OK.

Kathy

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:50 am

Can you separate them out of eye shot of each other? I've had a heifer kick another heifer's calf as it frightened her and she didn't know how to react to this new small animal. She ended up being a good mum herself though, a year later.

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:06 am

Hi Inger,

The problem sorted itself out last week when the calf got through three strands of electric fence and went to see aunty heif!! - we were there at the time and as the calf was quick on it's pins and away from the shed we thought we would see how they all got on together so let pumpkin in. heif is still pinching the milk sometimes but pumpkin doesn't seem to let her until the calf has finished (we are going to keep an eye on that) but they all seem realy happy - Pumpkin and heif seem to share childcare (including bathing and providing shade!) and there is always one of them with the calf. Long may it continue :D