Bull Calf Behavior

[waddles99]

The reason I have to wait is that I can't castrate him myself, and I can't have someone castrate him until early March. Could I halter him through the fence? And get him used to it like that? Would that be safer? He is not destined for anything other than a pasture pet, so he is not a kill sale or a herd sire or anything.

 

[Beekissed]

The reason I have to wait is that I can't castrate him myself, and I can't have someone castrate him until early March. Could I halter him through the fence? And get him used to it like that? Would that be safer? He is not destined for anything other than a pasture pet, so he is not a kill sale or a herd sire or anything.

For future such things, it's very easy to band them when they are just a few days old and a single person can do it. You should be able to halter him through the fence if you are quick and ready and he is distracted.

FWIW, I'd think twice about keeping this one for a pasture pet. Pets are docile, easy to handle and work around...this one is already not that way and cutting him may or may not improve his nature.

 

[waddles99]

For future such things, it's very easy to band them when they are just a few days old and a single person can do it. You should be able to halter him through the fence if you are quick and ready and he is distracted.

FWIW, I'd think twice about keeping this one for a pasture pet. Pets are docile, easy to handle and work around...this one is already not that way and cutting him may or may not improve his nature.

Yeah, I have noticed that in goats. Some wethers are still as nasty as if they were remained bucks. Some are even worse than some bucks. Just out of curiosity. Is this something with the way he was raised, or is it unpreventable and just his personality?

 

[Beekissed]

Yeah, I have noticed that in goats. Some wethers are still as nasty as if they were remained bucks. Some are even worse than some bucks. Just out of curiosity. Is this something with the way he was raised, or is it unpreventable and just his personality?

It may have a lot to do with how late they were castrated. This calf is fully able to breed another cow at 6 mo. of age, so his hormones are full and functioning. According to the article in the link I posted, his behavior may have a lot to do with how he was raised. Imprinting can confuse that animal for life, no matter if he's later castrated or not. This is also why so many people who hand rear male chickens get attacked by the same birds when they reach sexual maturity.

https://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/Bottle-raised males can be very dangerous.pdf

Quote:

surrogate mothers and then later in life w

ill direct their sexual behaviour towards the
surrogate species. If humans become the su
rrogate species it creates a potentially
dangerous situation. When the male reach
es sexual maturity, in addition to his
misdirected attraction, he will ha
ve bouts of male aggression
that he will direct against
his human “competition”. Male aggression is a normal part of sexual behaviour. In
nearly all our livesto
ck and wild species (horses, dogs
and cats may be the exception)
bottle raised intact males will show aggre
ssion towards humans when they reach sexual
maturity.


Most people mistakenly believe that dairy bulls
are dangerous because of their genetics.
It is true that most dairy
bulls are dangerous, but it has
more to do with their rearing
conditions then their genetics. Most dairy bulls are hand reared
in isolation which
contributes to their behaviour towards humans when they become adults. Dr. Ed Price, a
behaviour researcher from the Un
iversity of California at Davis, has shown that Hereford
bull calves raised in isolation and hand fe
d by humans became dangerous to people when
they reached adulthood, whereas
their group raised counterpa
rts where not mean towards
people.

 

[waddles99]

It may have a lot to do with how late they were castrated. This calf is fully able to breed another cow at 6 mo. of age, so his hormones are full and functioning. According to the article in the link I posted, his behavior may have a lot to do with how he was raised. Imprinting can confuse that animal for life, no matter if he's later castrated or not. This is also why so many people who hand rear male chickens get attacked by the same birds when they reach sexual maturity.

https://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/Bottle-raised males can be very dangerous.pdf

This bull calf seems like the prime candidate for aggression, it seems! He was bottle fed, kept alone and hand raised until about 5 months.

 

[cassie]

The reason I have to wait is that I can't castrate him myself, and I can't have someone castrate him until early March. Could I halter him through the fence? And get him used to it like that? Would that be safer? He is not destined for anything other than a pasture pet, so he is not a kill sale or a herd sire or anything.

Personally, if you want a pasture pet, I think you would be a lot better off to sell this animal and get another calf. Castrate that one when he is very young. The habits this calf is developing may not just go away after he is castrated. People have been hurt by big, obnoxious aggressive steers, too. If you get another calf, and castrate him at a few days of age, work with him. Halter break him, tie him, groom him, and get him used to being handled. If you keep this one, I think you are going to need the help of an experienced person to teach him some manners and rules of behavior. If he were mine, I would fatten him up and put him in the freezer, but that's me.

 

[Folly's place]

On the other hand, calves destined to become oxen are raised at least in pairs, and learn to respect humans from the beginning. They are usually castrated early too! Mary

 

[Beekissed]

Personally, if you want a pasture pet, I think you would be a lot better off to sell this animal and get another calf. Castrate that one when he is very young. The habits this calf is developing may not just go away after he is castrated. People have been hurt by big, obnoxious aggressive steers, too. If you get another calf, and castrate him at a few days of age, work with him. Halter break him, tie him, groom him, and get him used to being handled. If you keep this one, I think you are going to need the help of an experienced person to teach him some manners and rules of behavior. If he were mine, I would fatten him up and put him in the freezer, but that's me.

I agree. And when bottle feeding, it might be wise to use a nipple bucket situation instead of holding the bottle yourself. Hang that bucket and walk away. Raise the calf with another calf so they can nurse together, even. Anything but starting an imprinting situation.

 

[waddles99]

Yes, I know that it is silly of me to keep him but I really just wouldn't like to sell him to a sale barn where he would be killed. I know it is idealistic but I am really trying to make things work with him. I am going to try and tie him to the fence post to have him get used to a halter, and then have him walk the fence line maybe on the halter with me on the other side. He is always at the fence. I will also maybe try going in there with a stick or something and poke him on the chest to get him to back away if he gets too close? If it gets worse I will try and get him out of there ASAP, but I am really just trying to make it work, if you can understand. Especially since I remember when he was just a baby and liked to suck on my fingers(I know, bad for aggression, I had no idea) and was just a really sweet calf.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I personally would get myself a cattle prod. Being an ex dairy farmer I know how dangerous cows can be even if they aren't trying. If you live alone I wouldn't be going in the pasture with him. I was gored in the back by a steer when I was a teenager, and my brother was run over by a young bull. Never trust them. Definitely get him castrated asap.