The complete opposite to escaping cows! - They just won't come out!

carole · Post by **carole** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:08 pm

We had real fun and games with some of our cows yesterday when we tried to move them out of a very large field to a neighbouring field. One group of 7 (including our bull) wandered out quite happily and sandwiched between two vehicles made their way down to the other field but the other 6 just didn't want to know. We had got them all grouped around the gate but it is a rented field and for various reasons we cannot build a pen. We have moved them out of the field this way before with no problem. Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned they would be in a sandwich :laugh: Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:46 pm

I move cattle frequently between rented grazing some of it paddocks in front of five star holiday accommodation, they do not like any disturbance. I use high moveable gates with the pins which link them, set them up, feed in and close the pen. You may need to train them a little bit, but once they know the system the almost go in the pen without any food - in fact sometimes they do.The regular penning and loading also makes it possible to put young calves on a halter and lead them on with mums, they go in front of partition, cows tied on the halters to the side of trailer behind. That way even my steers can be led from the pen to trailer, maybe would not lead well enough for a show but at least I can contol them on a rope. Contrary to what you might expect the clanging of the gates as they are set up gets them interested, sometimes I can literally arrange the gates around them. I know this sounds to good to be true - I did have one cow, Curerden Candy, who took 3 weeks of persuasion to go into the pen one year but that is the exception. If you don't have gates yourself a friendly neighbouring farm may have some you could borrow, or the local Show committee may have some.

Duncan

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 3:32 pm

Can't quite see you set-up, but I've got mine trained to my whistle. They associate the sound with food and will run towards me when they hear it. But not if they have only just moved onto fresh grass of course. Then they go deaf. Have to wait till they're all near the gate before openning it.

They'll even run from a nice field into a poor one as long as I don't fool them too often. I move them quite a lot to keep them trained.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1193754751

carole · Post by **carole** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 3:45 pm

Thanks Duncan, Clive,
This is a 12 acre field they are in so they have been there a while, they are certainly eager to come to us when they see the truck and aren't 'flighty' we can walk around them quite happily. Next year we will have to move them far more frequently (assuming we can of course get them out this year).

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:40 pm

Yep have also used a similar method to the one Duncan mentions with our sheep, we feed them in a trough in a pen, some are more wary than others at first but ALL animals like food!

We intend to start our new little herd of Dexters on it asap.to make it easier when we need to handle them.

Stephanie

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:30 pm

As Clive mentioned it won't work if they have just been put into a field of lovely fresh grass, but on any other occasion I call, they come. Young calves sometimes find going through a gateway such a major undertaking that it is quite beyond them, but most will follow their mums.

Of course, if they think they have been in a field too long, they call and I come.... to see what the noise is about. So it works both ways.

At first I'd shake a bucket to attract their attention but I gave that up very quickly, there is the potential for being pushed around if they catch up.

Dexters, Shetlands and alpacas all come when they are called, either to a new field or into the barn. I couldn't load any of them from a field, but because they will go into the barn if I ask nicely, they can always be loaded from there.

Sorry it doesn't help the existing problem, but it does make things easier in the long term.

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:48 pm

Yes I do something similar to Sylvia too. I have a certain call that I only use when I've got food for them. They learn very fast when it's something to do with their stomachs. They come running, so you also have to be careful not to be caught up in a scrum.

Colin

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:05 pm

Sylvia wrote:Of course, if they think they have been in a field too long, they call and I come.... to see what the noise is about. So it works both ways.

.... :D :D

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:28 pm

I call ours to come as well, since we don't have a dog. It works well in Winter, but if there is too much grass around in Summer, it doesn't work so well and they take a lot more convincing to see any reason for moving. Having cows that think, isn't always an advantage. :D

Minnie · Post by **Minnie** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:39 pm

As with others we call ours as well, which at the moment they've been grazing a grassy lane and don't like to back into their paddock with a call.

We got some good quality hay (better than the lane) and I give them a little when they come, so as long as they know they're getting something they'll come to my calling. I call 'Berrys' and up they trot, straight through the gate, through their paddock and into the stables.

Now alpacas, I can whisper 'Boys' to them and they make a bee line for the stables or the chook paddock and I can trick them with no food but not the dexters they're too smart to be tricked.

It didn't take much at all to get them used to coming to the call, because they are so smart.

:D
Vicki
PS And my cow with calf that's caused problems she spots the yellow dish, separates quietly from the others and makes her way down to the stables before them because she knows she's getting some extra. :;):