Halter Training

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I would say not , but it will be harder and take longer. Try to be patient and persistent, do not get impatient or angry with "bad behaviour", just keep at it slowly and gently.

Duncan

[Rob R]

Agree with the above. At college we had to halter train bulled dairy heifers & finished beef steers & all behaved on the day. My wife is planning to train a 36 month steer...

[Carrog]

Thanks - good to know it's not impossible at their age! At the moment I'm just getting them used to being handled and touched!

Stephen

[Louisa Gidney]

Sometimes, Dexters can actually surprise by good behaviour. The senior bull went out on loan yesterday. Got his halter on no probs, walked out of field to trailer, loaded & tied up in one. The people borrowing him were well impressed. Didn't tell them I was too!

[LISA]

All being well our cattle will be turned out on Thursday.

Usually I like to get all the weaned heifers halter trained over the winter but this hasn't happened this year, due to "life" getting in the way!

I have set myself the challenge of getting them (group of six) halter trained before our planned Thursday turnout.

I will test out my "30 minute, 3 tie up sessions" as described on page 1 of this topic.

This afternoon - Day 1-The girls have had their first session today of being caught and tied up for the first time ever (aged 9 - 12 months old). They were tied up for nearly half an hour in total while we did other jobs and gave them an edible treat before taking the halters off. I did not even attempt to lead any today just removed the halters where they were tied.

Day 2 tomorrow!

[SteveM]

I find if you have a 2nd pen to lead and fie up in then feed them they soon get to think its a good idea to be tied up. When we first started with dexters had 2 young short legged bulls who where tied up over winter regularly in a railway hut but never lead. Both behaved when taken out

[Louisa Gidney]

I'm currently training a 10 month old bull and he's doing quite well inside just with me. However he went ballistic when "strangers" came into the barn when he was tied up at the weekend and he went equally doolally when I tried to introduce the concept of a nose clip. Has anyone any advice on how to train acceptance of the nose clip? I'll probably want to show him before he's been rung and want the reassurance of brakes as I don't know how he'll react to the experience, but it will do him good. All the big continental heifers at shows seem to have no problem with the nose clip being fitted, so how is it done without tears?

[Saffy]

Hello Louisa,

If he is a bull, I expect he has a nose ring? Could you use that and not bother with a nose clip.

Stephanie

[Louisa Gidney]

I've only had the baby bull 2 weeks, he's not well grown for his age, hasn't been handled individually before etc. I want him to grow a bit before he has a nose ring put in. My first bull had a tiny ring that was a real pain to get hold of. I like a bigger ring but his nose needs to grow a bit more. That's why I'm looking at the nose clip as an intermediate measure, so he's already used to nose control before being rung. I'm giving him some high protein calf coarse mix and he's definitely improving. The down side is that it's making him rather bouncy! Thinks kids on sweets.

[Saffy]

I'm giving him some high protein calf coarse mix and he's definitely improving. The down side is that it's making him rather bouncy! Thinks kids on sweets.

I have a bull calf about his age, mine was also quite small and I have done exactly the same thing! He is on the coarse mix, a handfull of broken wheat, plus a few suckler rolls, he has filled out and started to grow, he is just over 9 months but I probably won't ring him until he is a year old either. This thread is interesting me at the moment as I am about to start the leading process on him, he is very quiet but may change when the leading starts!!!

Stephanie

[LISA]

Day 2 - Training update, tied the girls up today with their edible treat. Very short of time today so they only spent approx. 20 minutes tied up. Did not even attempt to lead any just untied where they stood. I think "Day 3 " will be on Wednesday as I am very busy tomorrow. Will report progress then!

[natmadaboutdexters]

I am attempting the impossible at the moment, trying to halter train a 14 month old Limousin cross Belgian Blue heifer! Have to say that Dexters are much easier to train although we normally start them at just a couple of weeks old and then I know I can always get them in from the field even if they arent shown.

Luckily, I am normally stronger and taller than a Dexter but the Limmy is tall and very strong. Watch this space!

Not my idea for a big animal but my husbands as a 'young handler beast' for our daughter.

Natasha

[Louisa Gidney]

My little boy has learnt to do standing jumps. I tied him to the side of one pen this morning while I pottered about, then turned round to find him on the other side! Not a good habit to develop.

[LISA]

Sorry I did not manage to post "Day 3" results (life getting in the way again).

I am happy to report that all 6 heifers led around their section of the yard (5 very well and 1 a bit start/stop stubborn but still led). I imagine 3 would have led after their 2nd session.

I will stand by my "3 session" training theory. We used to have Charolais and Longhorn Cattle and it worked on them just the same. However remember safety is paramount, our cattle are all placid, I will not keep any nasty bloodlines (and they do exist) so basically my six this week were quiet girls genetically. I have trained completely wild cattle before including continental cross (literally!) suckler cows, these usually lead earlier than the quiet ones as they "fight" the halter a lot more initially. Some cattle (of all breeds) are just too dangerous to handle on the halter (or just go in with) I wouldn't even attempt these, why risk your life (beef those!)

We had our TB test this week (all good thankfully), having halter trained cattle meant it was quick and easy. The vet enjoys coming out to us as he knows the cattle will behave and he doesn't have to wait long between each animal.

The cattle have all been turned out now and look content on the grass, best time of year!

(Off now for an "edible treat" myself now, the great thing about the cows being out is my husband has cooked a lovely breakfast).

Happy Turn out every one!

Best Wishes Lisa Bell.

[Rob R]

We had our TB test this week (all good thankfully), having halter trained cattle meant it was quick and easy. The vet enjoys coming out to us as he knows the cattle will behave and he doesn't have to wait long between each animal.

Every four years our vet seems to forget what our cattle are like. He comes dreading a morning working with Dexters but leaves every time, pleasantly surprised - I don't know what it is that other people do with them to give the breed such a reputation.