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Snotty Heifer...

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
My 4-H heifer went crazy a while ago... I would have lloved to show her, but if she is this wild I just said thats it-she is not going to be shown. So IO have a half wild Angus heifer (red carrier so i think its the red gene :lol: :roll: :wink: :p ). Does anyone want her for bucking stock? lol. I'm just wondering how to calm her down enough so I won't get kilt next time I walk into the corral. lol.
 

Ranchy

Well-known member
ACS, that sounds just like Al's cow! Last year, he thought maybe he could take her and Tillie to the fair, was supposed to show them as a pair.....but at our project tour, she went nutso at just the small group gawking at her. I can't imagine what she'd have been like at the fair, with all the people, little kids running up under her, the noise, all the strange sights and smells.........

The year before that, he was supposed to show her as a bred heifer, but got his ankle broken when he got kicked by one of his horses. So, his friend was going to show her for him, and he couldn't even get in the corral with her!

Definately no red in that cow, she's pure Char. We always accredited the Crazy Gene to the yellow ones........... :lol:

So sorry that you're not gonna be able to show her........would the halter that NR came up with, and MCG is using on her steer (and I'm trying to talk Al into getting my brother to build him one like, for Tillie) help at all? It seems such a shame and a waste, to not be able to finish your project with her......... :(

What did you ever decide about doing the Herefords?
And didja ever get a pic of the 20# calf?
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
I don't think that the halter would help-If she's mean and bucky now I don't want to bring her to the shows nd have her or even worse-someone else hurt because of her attitude.

Im looking at Herefords, and a Shorthorn. Still undecided.

I got a pic of the lil calf but the camera is in town so Ill try and take a new one at branding on Saturday. lol.
 

greg

Well-known member
Angus Cattle Shower said:
I don't think that the halter would help-If she's mean and bucky now I don't want to bring her to the shows nd have her or even worse-someone else hurt because of her attitude.

Im looking at Herefords, and a Shorthorn. Still undecided.

I got a pic of the lil calf but the camera is in town so Ill try and take a new one at branding on Saturday. lol.
8) If too tough not worth trouble-too many good ones out there.Red not the problem--Attitude
 

greg

Well-known member
Angus Cattle Shower said:
I don't think that the halter would help-If she's mean and bucky now I don't want to bring her to the shows nd have her or even worse-someone else hurt because of her attitude.

Im looking at Herefords, and a Shorthorn. Still undecided.

I got a pic of the lil calf but the camera is in town so Ill try and take a new one at branding on Saturday. lol.
Sorry-never say that, BUT missed yur saying at bottom=Yur gettin it
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
I know its attitude. lol. But me n dad are having a little bit of a fun war. lol. I say go Blacks, and he says go reds so when theres a prollem I say, "Oh, its those dam* reds and vice versa. lol.

You mean the Go Oilers!!!!!!? lol. Canes are gonna win tonite! Then Edmonton will win 4 straight. lol.
 

Hanta Yo

Well-known member
ACS,
Get a hold of the halter MCG uses, that halter, once placed on the animal, if the animal fights for a period of time develops a SORE NOSE. That's why MCG's steer is such a pussycat, I was having doubts about him because he's so big and MCG hadn't done anything with him and he wasn't all that friendly......FIRST DAY putting that halter on she could actually do something with him, the second day she worked with him I'll bet his nose was quite sore, so he was a pussycat, third day (today) he was even better. Need to walk them around with THAT HALTER for awhile before putting a rope halter on them, by then they are halter broke well.

HOWEVER, there are some heifers out there who are plain crazy, I can testify to THAT fact many times over, if she is that good lookin' with good breeding maybe give her a second chance. If she doesn't behave within 3 days of that halter I would give her up. BTW, do you have a place to tie her up and work with her? If not, forget it.
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
I have plenty of places to tie her up, but all of my show deadlines are up. lol. I think that some things are meant to be, and some just aren't-and this one aren't. lol.
 

Angus Breeder

Well-known member
ACS, Forget about any kind of new halter, and be careful not to let her fight it to much or she will rupture the blood vessels on the bridge of her nose, and then she will never respect a halter again. What we have found best on those kind is to turn them out in a grass paddock for two or three days, and not even bring them in the barn. When you bring her back in just start the whole breaking process again, and slowly get back to where you were. Remember that she can sense anger and fear. There is a fine line between doing it right and being stupid, but is she blows up or starts to swat at you, just stay calm and go right back to focusing on you. If she heads down the same road again, kick her out because she will not work.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
You could try some rompum and/or ace and see if that helps calm
her down.

Our daughter had a wild part Simmental, part Hereford heifer one year.
We had quite a time with her. She worked and worked to get her calmed
down and it just didn't happen. The day we decided to give up, Mr. FH went to turn her out of the barn and kind of had to make her get out of
the way. That was her turning point, it seemed, so our daughter was able to keep her and get something done. Came the night the 4H club visited
all the members projects and one girl ran to the barn, ran in the barn and scared the heifer and the heifer took her. So we had to basically start all over again. Of course, it didn't take as long that time, but we were worried about what was going to happen at the fair. We got permission to tranquilize her the first day. As the tranquilizer wore off, she was fine. She showed well and never gave a problem the rest of the time.
 

Angus Breeder

Well-known member
If you must go that route use 1/4cc of ace, and put it directly in the vein that runs down the inside of the tail. It will start to work in less than 5 minutes
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
C heck for EXT in the pedigree or any of his ancestors lol. You have to lead them about two body lengths at 100 yards with a .270 when they are in full flight. Sorry about your heifer but some are just 'Born to be Wild'. Sara's old $H heifer is our practice pen shootout heifer-5 bucks in the pot everytime she toques somebody-haven't paid out on her yet lol.
 

George

Well-known member
I don't know if this would work on cattle but a neighbor has a reputation for curing bad horses. He has a chute he puts them in and only the head is out then slowly fills the chute with wheat. The animal can't fight it and while they are in the wheat he calmly works with their head.

When the animal is totaly calm the wheat is let out for later reuse and normally only one time is needed.

I don't know why this works but I have seen it. Will it work on cattle??? I have no idea.
 

Turkey Track Bar

Well-known member
At risk of looking like I'm coming off as "holier than thou" I'd like you guys to give some thought to use, especially in show cattle, but in all food producing livestock, of Ace, Rompum (? spelling,) etc. My reason for posting this is that at least in the US, most of those products are labeled for use in horses and not food producing animals...thus they are being used in an Extra Label manner!!!

Most state, regional, and national shows today are testing for use of extra label/illegal drugs. Heck even some local/county shows are too...and one of the biggest offenders is Ace or Rompum. If you're going to use these, please get an extra label prescription from your vet, keep diligent and detailed records of use, and take the liability off of yourselves!!!

How do I know this...

During grad school I spent a year and a half as the interm county agent in a large livestock county that also had a large "show" contingent. The county show was a "terminal" show, and one of the stipulations of the packers for all four species was, each individual animal be tested for residues. Mind you this was about a year after the Ryan Rash, clenbuterol incident at the National Western in Denver. The same packer that bought the NWSS steers bid and got the contract on our county show steers, so they were a little suspecious and leary of buying a set of show steers, after being burnt.

Low and behold the champion steer tests positive for Ace...what a wreck...under the Ethics codes for the Internaional Fairs and Shows...that means that the kid can't show for life. The family was a prominent (both in the show ring and the "real" world) purebred breeder of cattle, and the kid was 9 or 10 years old, so I highly doubt he had any part in the use of the Ace. So, I couldn't sign off on entry forms for other shows...in the mean time, I was sued, as Extension Agent, along with several others. They sued, not because they wanted to sue me, but because they wanted an injunction to keep showing. Mind you the calf had been on display for 3 days after the show and the Ace could have been put in feed, water, etc. Finally an out of court settlement was agreed upon, and it's a done deal.

Just remember, if you are using these Extra Label products without an Extra Label prescription, you are committing an illegal act...essentially a crime.

If this had occurred today, I suspect the exhibitors would be prosecuted, as FSIS and FDA are getting stricter on illegal use of "drugs" in food producing animals.

All in all it was a learning experience, but before using these Extra Label products "CYA" and get a vet's prescription. If they won't write it for you, it's probably best to not be using it.

Today there is an approved "herbal" product available in the US called "Calf Calm" (I think) that kids and parents tell me works pretty well.

Sorry to post such a "downer" post...I generally like posting good or happy things...but hopefully this will help keep some good meaning, unsuspecting folks out of trouble too.

Cheers---

TTB :wink:
 

the_jersey_lilly_2000

Well-known member
I dont think your post should be taken as a "downer post" You gave good advice. Not all kids or parents know the rules when it comes to showing animals. And if they were told by a "good friend" or heard rumor that it was ok to use this, then got kicked outta the show, they'd probably be mad at that friend.
Our fair tests the GRand and Reserve animals. But none of the others as far as I"m aware. But still, thanks for posting this, if it keeps one kid that might have used the drugs other wise, in good standings and able to show in 4-H or FFA, you done a good thing.
Some shows may allow it, I don't know, but it's a wise thing to check and make sure before using something that could possibly end your showing for life.
 

greg

Well-known member
the_jersey_lilly_2000 said:
I dont think your post should be taken as a "downer post" You gave good advice. Not all kids or parents know the rules when it comes to showing animals. And if they were told by a "good friend" or heard rumor that it was ok to use this, then got kicked outta the show, they'd probably be mad at that friend.
Our fair tests the GRand and Reserve animals. But none of the others as far as I"m aware. But still, thanks for posting this, if it keeps one kid that might have used the drugs other wise, in good standings and able to show in 4-H or FFA, you done a good thing.
Some shows may allow it, I don't know, but it's a wise thing to check and make sure before using something that could possibly end your showing for life.
Good adcice-plus it's not right
 

Ranchy

Well-known member
A word about the Calf Calm product......

Some neighbors of ours, used it on the son's calf a few days before the show he was entered in, and it's a good thing they did.

The calf was allergic to something in the formula, apparently, and just went ballistic for a few hours.........as soon as the Calf Calm wore off, so did the side effects. It may work great for some cattle, but if it has the same adverse effect that it did on Ky's steer, it could be a disaster.

Just try it at home, before you go to a show........better safe, than sorry.

I applaud you, ACS, for your good common sense. There is no award in this world, that's worth taking a chance, on someone getting hurt. Great ethics you have. :clap:

:cboy:
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
I am full support of your post, TTB. That wasn't a 'downer', it was
very informative.

We haven't been involved with 4H for years (outside of my judging
some little horse shows) and when we treated our daughters heifer
it was under veterinary supervision (I don't even know what he used)
and with full permission. But that was in 1979...lots of things have
changed since then.

Thanks for the good information. Thats what makes this site so
special.
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
I don't think that I would use any drugs to calm any animal down. They have an enhancing program in 4H-using steroroids. Dad said that he would let me do it-I told him that I will not do this. Enhancing animals like this is not proper, even if ti is legal. MY animals may not win big bucks, but if I do it all on my own without drugs, then I am really proud, knowing that I can do it. lol.

Thanks for the comments, and ideas everyone.
 
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