How do you train a cow to become a house cow?!?!?!?

[CaliFarmsAR]

Hey there all,
We bought a cow sometime during May this year. She's a 6 year old Dexter cow, and we bought her 2 month old (at the time) heifer calf with her. We got her from some friends who have a herd of Dexters roaming around on their huge property. They used to be used for milking, but then the family had some dairy issues and so don't milk the cows anymore.
She's a lovely cow, sweet and gentle, although she does go through moods where she'll get pushy. We were planning on using her for a milk cow. She has been milked for a short period during her earlier years. She won't let us touch her, but feeding her is just fine. She'll come up to us for food.
So, does anyone have any tips for training an older, stubborn cow to be milked and 'tamed' so to speak?
Thanks so much

Can you feed her and will she let you pet her??

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

Okay, I’m going to work with our steer to show y’all what I mean! He does not like to be messed with so it perfect lol!

Okay so I feed our 3 cows and meanwhile he is eating I slowly walk up to him and start to pet him. If he backs up I will back way from him and give the steer the space he wants. Please remember just because it works for me don’t mean it will for you! One other thing if you are getting a new cow and it’s scared remember that it’s in a new environment and will not know you! Try to put yourself in your animals hooves!
FEEDING HIM

PETING HIM GENTLY

HIM BACKING WAY SO I LET HIM

 

[cooingdove]

I have cows, have for most of my life. everything mentioned here sounds good. remember, it will be a slow process, and take a lot of patience but it should work.
good treats for cow can be: apples, clover, and also lawn clippings. if you do use lawn clippings thought be sure they are fresh, as they can rot and become toxic in just
40 minutes. but it is safe, we do it all the time.
good luck, and feel free to ask any more questions!

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

I have cows, have for most of my life. everything mentioned here sounds good. remember, it will be a slow process, and take a lot of patience but it should work.
good treats for cow can be: apples, clover, and also lawn clippings. if you do use lawn clippings thought be sure they are fresh, as they can rot and become toxic in just
40 minutes. but it is safe, we do it all the time.
good luck, and feel free to ask any more questions!

Thank you never thought those as treats! I use Alfa cubes!

 

[NatJ]

If the cow is being fed any grain, then her usual grain ration can also be used as "treats" for training purposes. Just make sure she gets the right total amount in the day, so she doesn't get too fat or too thin.

I think I've read of people tying up the cow while she eats her grain--if the yummy grain only happens while tied, she starts to not mind being tied. (And of course it's common to have a cow eat her grain ration while being milked, which means she is also tied up or in a stanchion.)

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Also, careful about tying. Do it in steps. First, just have rope in hand while feeding treats. Then, have in hand you are petting her with. Then, let the rope touch her. Then let the rope go over her neck and slide off. Then put rope over neck and leave there while you pet her. Then bring rope up and let her feel it. Then bring it up, tighten it, release it. All this takes days and days, and the point is never let any of it cause her to feel excited or stressed.

 

[cassie]

No, you don’t want to do that yet!!!

Why not? I have tamed any number of wild bovines, and other critters too, by doing exactly that.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

Why not? I have tamed any number of wild bovines, and other critters too, by doing exactly that.

In my opinion that’s a little more ruff but if that’s how you do it. I do mine a different way and people have different ways! I end up doing stuff like that but not until a little later! Thank you for sharing your way of training because i love hearing other people’s ways!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If the cow is very wild and you try to put a rope on it you could have a rodeo! Wear gloves, lol.

 

[NatJ]

They used to be used for milking, but then the family had some dairy issues and so don't milk the cows anymore.

If the cow was previously trained to be tied up, and handled, and brushed, and milked: she might have completely forgotten, and it will be all new and scary to her. Or she might remember perfectly well how to behave, and is just trying to see what you will let her get away with. Reality is probably somewhere in between