Bull Calf Behavior

[waddles99]

I have a quick question regarding bull calf behavior. Whenever I go in this pen with this guy I get the feeling like he is not happy with me in there. He is a 6 month old, probably around 300 lb guernsey, not fixed yet. Today when I went in the pen he was following me around, he would go and run really fast around me and then return to following me. I pulled him away by the collar and he thrashed his head up at my arm to make me let go. He also nudges me with his head on my leg or something. Is this just playing or is he being aggressive?

 

[Folly's place]

Is he on track to be a herd sire? If not, get him castrated ASAP. 'Playful' bulls will get you killed, and he's already dangerous/ disrespectful of your space. Get in contact with local people experienced with training calves and fix his attitude before you are hurt. Ox trainers, 4H people, your county extension office, all may be able to help. All the best, Mary

 

[waddles99]

Is he on track to be a herd sire? If not, get him castrated ASAP. 'Playful' bulls will get you killed, and he's already dangerous/ disrespectful of your space. Get in contact with local people experienced with training calves and fix his attitude before you are hurt. Ox trainers, 4H people, your county extension office, all may be able to help. All the best, Mary

No he is not on track to be a herd sire. I will try to see about getting him castrated. Thanks. I didn't know if he was playing around or testing the waters, but I thought him butting me with his head was a bad sign, as well as shaking his head back and forth, and following me around all of a sudden. I dont want to get hurt. It seems like it was only a couple weeks ago he was a respectful little calf.

 

[waddles99]

I think I could get him castrated in early March. In the meantime, is there anything I can do while around him? I still need to be going in and out of that pen. I cant just stop going in there, I need to be able to feed and water them. But any tips to how I can safely do so? He's not a big guy, maybe only 300ish #s but I just want to be cautious.

 

[Beekissed]

Did you bottle feed this calf? If so, you may have worse problems then just a playful or ornery bull. You could be dealing with imprinting issues: https://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/Bottle-raised males can be very dangerous.pdf


I'd keep a lead rope tied to the pen and each day you go to feed, I'd lure him to the lead~through the fence~ with some feed and fasten his halter to the tied off lead while he's eating a bit of feed. That way you can enter that pen without worrying about him reaching you. He may just get to like that routine and may like the reward of getting hooked up and standing while you work in the pen.

 

[waddles99]

He was bottle fed, yes. Not anymore though obviously he is eating hay and grain. And that is a great idea! I never thought about tying him up. I guess I was so focused on what to do while interacting with him than how to avoid interacting with him in the first place.

 

[Folly's place]

Always carry a 'stick', whip, non-electric prod, or something, and insist that he move away from you at all times. As Beekissed says, halter and tie him daily. Get help!!! That first haltering experience might be pretty exciting, so don't be alone out there. Ox drovers usually start bottle fed calves, and have experience enforcing polite behavior anyway. It's a matter of attitude, and squelching the first signs of unacceptable behavior. Fix the bad thoughts, don't wait for the acting out. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Google 'ox drovers', it looks like there are some closer to you. Mary

 

[cassie]

What is the destiny of this calf? Beef? Ox? Bear in mind that Guernseys and Jerseys are the most dangerous of the dairy bulls. I do not know why, but they are. Even a small bull can hurt you. I am curious as to why you are waiting until March to castrate him. Try not to wait that long. By the way, it takes some weeks for the testosterone to get out of the system.

 

[Folly's place]

Castration will not be a miracle cure here, this boy still needs serious retraining/ attitude adjustment. Does he have other cattle? The older animals will help manage him. If he's with other calves, but is the dominant one, that's not as useful. Mary