Maniac Cows

[Wendy10]

Are you going to keep it or cull it ?

I would have been undecided, but given we are selling everything as they are ready, she will go either way. Out of conscious will give the heads up if she does go for breeding. Given her past I think she should have the benefit of the doubt. Just come back from checking her again and she is back to normal. Calf has sucked and she is calm as she ever was. Really nice calf too, another why, why do the nasty ones always have the best calves?

 

[Henarar]

I would have been undecided, but given we are selling everything as they are ready, she will go either way. Out of conscious will give the heads up if she does go for breeding. Given her past I think she should have the benefit of the doubt. Just come back from checking her again and she is back to normal. Calf has sucked and she is calm as she ever was. Really nice calf too, another why, why do the nasty ones always have the best calves?

because they are good mothers

 

[Lovegoodstock]

Just come in from calving a dopey one, we have a fair few cows, mostly quiet, some you watch, a handful psychotic. Stores we sell the odd wild/ mad one is told to auctioneer before putting lot number on in pen which I think is a real unenviable job, but odd small farmer wanting a few quiet running on cattle is told and they don't bid, most are bought by regular buyers that fatten a lot and their systems are geared up to handling big numbers in a good way and they are not bothered in the slightest. Admit we don't want a nation full of mad cattle but, if progeny only go for slaughter, you can wean out slowly and not suffer a big financial hit of killing a young fertile cow producing quality offspring, providing you are able to cope with the likes, and your buyers are aware and equally set up

 

[muleman]

Lack of Thiamine/B6 & Iron can all be linked to aggressive behaviour, Iron deficiency interferes with dopamine production, while B vits and Thiamine deficiency cause irritability.

Blood profiles may be in order.

wonder if i`m short of thiamine at the moment....or maybe it just lambing time!

 

[muleman]

We had a maniac calve last night, never realised it was gonna calve,(don't tell @Lovegoodstock )!,it calved in cubicles into the slurry,wanted it outa there but was coming for me so got into skidsteer and put scraper on (felt like I was in an army tank in that) and scraped calf onto yard and cleared off to bed. went out this morning and it was up and suckling.

 

[GenuineRisk]

because they are good mothers

Ha! We agree! I wouldn't class her as nasty at all - she's just being a good maternal cow, her hormones are raging a bit but fact that she's now calmed down and is back to 'normal' wouldn't put her on the cull list for me ! And this from a dyed in the wool Blue breeder where temperament is a very, very important trait. We've got a couple of cows here who you wouldn't upset immediately they've calved but they're great mums, calves are great and haven't displayed any signs of 'temperament' so they stay!!

 

[Henarar]

would rather they are a bit calf proud for a few days than bugger of and leave the calf
we have a sim cross cow that calved yesterday, it would be a pretty safe bet that no one would go in and nick her calf
its the ones that carry it on for weeks that I wouldn't own, hang them up

 

[digger64]

Ha! We agree! I wouldn't class her as nasty at all - she's just being a good maternal cow, her hormones are raging a bit but fact that she's now calmed down and is back to 'normal' wouldn't put her on the cull list for me ! And this from a dyed in the wool Blue breeder where temperament is a very, very important trait. We've got a couple of cows here who you wouldn't upset immediately they've calved but they're great mums, calves are great and haven't displayed any signs of 'temperament' so they stay!!

Do you enjoy going to funerals ?

 

[Henarar]

Do you enjoy going to funerals ?

there is a difference in a cow that protects its calf for a day or two and one that will leave its calf come across the shed and have a go, the latter want hanging up

 

[choochter]

there is a difference in a cow that protects its calf for a day or two and one that will leave its calf come across the shed and have a go, the latter want hanging up

Most people on here will have never of had babies themselves and may not fully understand what a BIG THING it is, whether bovine or human being.

It is not odd to want to be left in peace at least for a few hours or a couple of days even, just to come to terms with it all.

 

[Henarar]

Most people on here will have never of had babies themselves and may not fully understand what a BIG THING it is, whether bovine or human being.

It is not odd to want to be left in peace at least for a few hours or a couple of days even, just to come to terms with it all.

yes us men should go down the pub and leave you to it

 

[digger64]

there is a difference in a cow that protects its calf for a day or two and one that will leave its calf come across the shed and have a go, the latter want hanging up

Trouble is they get better at it and always win , then breeders turn a blind eye sell them to someone else deny any responsibility and bingo the whole industry has a problem and treat it as normal -same could be said for lame sheep

 

[Henarar]

we have not found it particularly hereditary anyway
but each to there own

 

[digger64]

we have not found it particularly hereditary anyway
but each to there own

Since using mangement tags and retaining heifers it has been quite obvious that nervous cows breed nervous offspring and increase alot of costs and work

 

[Henarar]

each to there own findings

 

[M-J-G]

The worst cow I ever bred, was a complete psychopath who just got worse as she got older, to the point that she'd have had a go at you as a cull cow. But every daughter, grand daughter and great grand daughter she had was about as quiet as you could imagine.

But likewise I've seen some that follow in their mother's foot steps.

It is probably wise to stay on the side of caution.

 

[Danllan]

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

Yes, but... I have only had two 'run-ins' in my life, one over twenty years ago and one just a few weeks ago; I was and am confident around the cattle, but I sure as hell know when to get out of the way too.

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.

Agreed 100%, and this is the point because, as I've written before, if a cow wants to go in a straight line... it will!

We have a self feed clamp and you absolutely have to loudly announce your approach. It's amazing how some still have no idea you're there until it's too late and they panic like hell. Feel cornered I suppose.

Good advice, I was brought up to always let them know I was coming.

The thing is, almost always it will be you doing something wrong that causes a problem with a beast but, now and then, it is the animal that initiates something for reasons we'll probably never know about. And that is the one you can't prevent but can, with decent planning, mitigate against. I just don't believe that there is such a thing as a cow that poses no threat. Any animal that threatens my or another person's life is culled, that is the biggest and most positive change that can be made.

 

[bjreroberts]

you never called cows in for milking or feeding? cows can learn plenty of words and different peoples voices in different situations

When I used to carry fodder out in a bulk builders bag my stock bull liked to eat straight from the bag and would normally be stood on it. I only had say "off the bag" and he would step back and let me empty it.

 

[crofteress]

Most people on here will have never of had babies themselves and may not fully understand what a BIG THING it is, whether bovine or human being.

It is not odd to want to be left in peace at least for a few hours or a couple of days even, just to come to terms with it all.

was thinking this last night about this thread and the other thread about heifers not letting calves suck, most people on here wont have breast fed either, its bloody painful to start with till you get desensitised, and also when they are full of milk it hurts worse, so saying why dont they want the calve to relieve it , its not like that, you have to grit your teeth and your eyes water for the first 5 mins so its the same for cows.

 

[digger64]

each to there own findings

If a cow or bull nods at me or anyone ever I tap the man. No. in my phone write it on the list dont bull it and part
Company because I dont know who is going to look after them all If I cant nor how will I pay for it either . Its just not worth it .