Maniac Cows
- Thread starter fermerboy
- Start date
willie waver
Member
- Location
- walking in the ayr
I had one a couple of months ago, nice old 12 year old cow, never been aggressive in its life, had its calf and I was watching them in the calving pen when all of a sudden the cow gets all flighty and rushes the gate, i'm thinking wtf, then a few seconds later my nephew and girlfriend walk round the corner to say hello, old cow had heard them coming
got another cow that goes mental and tries to climb a solid 10 foot wall everytime it sees a vet. quite impressed at how it can tell who a vet is compared to anyone else
had e nuff
Member
- Location
- Durham
We've got blue x cows here. Never had a nasty one yet. More likely to knock you over in the rush for a scratch.
this is true, but you get fed up having to push them about
I agree
lose you confidence with cattle and you have had it, be bold make sure they know who is in charge or get out and stay out
M-J-G
Member
Princess Pooper
Member
- Location
- East Mids
Whilst you are trying to work out how to sort it, some useful reminders....
keep safe.
keep safe.
- Location
- Limousin
I had one a couple of months ago, nice old 12 year old cow, never been aggressive in its life, had its calf and I was watching them in the calving pen when all of a sudden the cow gets all flighty and rushes the gate, i'm thinking wtf, then a few seconds later my nephew and girlfriend walk round the corner to say hello, old cow had heard them coming
got another cow that goes mental and tries to climb a solid 10 foot wall everytime it sees a vet. quite impressed at how it can tell who a vet is compared to anyone else
IMO vets can often bring the smell of stress from other cattle visits they have done.
Anything else that could have changed on the farm to make them this way this year @fermerboy?
There's not a new dog or anything on the farm that likes to have a run up & down the passageway or anything like that when you are working near them or have access to them when you are elsewhere?
There's not a new dog or anything on the farm that likes to have a run up & down the passageway or anything like that when you are working near them or have access to them when you are elsewhere?
All our cows are quiet but one and each time she calves it's the last but never is.We calf her with cows and calves and leave well alone for 3 days then she never gives us another look.Try Natural Minerals we get an additive for the water and I know they do a powder that certainly calms fattening bulls down.Do you just go into the pen and say nothing ,mad me talks to the damn things so they know from the minute I open the yard gate it's good morning girls.Some of mine are that laid back ,but sounds like something has spoked them.Sounds silly but come Wednesday morning all the fattening cattle stand at the feed barriers mooing,they just know someone is going to the green fields in the sky.Also if someone gets out they all kick off to let you know.Do be careful ,
- Location
- Shropshire
I got smashed by a cow last year whilst helping a neighbour, and it's definitely made me more nervous, even with my own, which I used to trust and be comfortable with.
I had a new workman a couple of years ago, and my other workman insists the cows aren't as quiet as they used to be. I think this could be because the 'new' workman constantly talks to them and won't keep quiet. I always try to tell him that contented cows are quiet, so why insist on constantly talking to them.
I had a new workman a couple of years ago, and my other workman insists the cows aren't as quiet as they used to be. I think this could be because the 'new' workman constantly talks to them and won't keep quiet. I always try to tell him that contented cows are quiet, so why insist on constantly talking to them.
Chap i work for, very old fashioned in his ways any time he walks through cows talks to them, but his cows quiet as mice with me and him but any stranger or if they see us starting to single one out etc its like someone flicked a switch!!
M-J-G
Member
I wouldn't say that talking makes them nervous, unless he's very loud or high pitched , if you're talking they always know where you are.
I've found that if an animal won't go through a gate etc. that talking to it in a low calm manor allows it to look at what it's doing, rather that having to look to see where you are at.
It's more likely to be body language that is upsetting them, cattle are more sensitive to body language and smells than sounds.
Cowcalf
Member
- Location
- North of Scotland
take steel water pipe as a stick with you gives you confidence and can certainly show who is boss should that problem occur
- Location
- our house, Norn Iron
A neighbour of mine who has very quiet cows says a stick is as usless as a whisp of hay, take a graip in with fresh calved cows & hope you never need to use it.
- Location
- Shropshire
Sorry, I perhaps worded it wrong. It was more to do with consistent loud chatter than quietly talking to them as you go by.
It is noticeable how when he goes into the shed all the cows tend to stand up, but I can walk through them at night and they stay lying down
choochter
Member
- Location
- aberdeenshire
I very rarely talk to my cows, their language is body language, words mean nothing to them.
- Location
- Ceredigion, wales
Cattle definitely learn from/ copy each other. We had a herd of Limx cows and they were getting progressively worse every year. They were only aggressive after calving (mainly) but were wild all the time even though we tried everything to calm them down. In the end we bought a bunch of bucket reared hereford x fresian/holstein bulling heifers and as soon as they joined the herd the lims calmed down noticeably. In fact if we wanted them in we'd just shake a bucket and the herefords would come running. By the time we were near the yard the lims would be in front of the herefords.
Definitely worth checking for stray electricity too. Seen it happen here. Get an electrician in to check, remember that cattle are more sensitive to electricity than humans so you may not feel it but they will.
Definitely worth checking for stray electricity too. Seen it happen here. Get an electrician in to check, remember that cattle are more sensitive to electricity than humans so you may not feel it but they will.
willie waver
Member
- Location
- walking in the ayr
you never called cows in for milking or feeding? cows can learn plenty of words and different peoples voices in different situations
willie waver
Member
- Location
- walking in the ayr
don't rely on a graip or fork either, been there, tried it, got the bruises. if one wants to do you, it'll just go through the graip like its not there.