Training a wild steer

[Tamara]

Hello everyone

I have had MacLeod the highland steer since the 11th now, or almost two weeks. When I bought him, I knew I wasn't getting 'Tamest Cow of the Year Award' worthy material... After all, you get what you pay for and I didn't pay much.

But I have dealt with a fair share of nervous animals, and I consider myself pretty good at taming them - I have a gelding who would spook at his own shadow, but as long as I am very quiet and calm I can approach and touch him. I recently got a rescued sheep, and she was scared as anything, but now after a couple of months she is calm and I can stroke her head. I also sheltered two stray lambs for a while, and they were untouchable at first. After a month I could cuddle them. I also adopted some donkeys, one of which is head shy and doesn't like being touched, but after just a few weeks he is calm enough to brush all over. So yes, I have dealt with and tamed nervous animals before.

I feel like I was mislead though when it came to MacLeod. The seller told me 'he is fairly quiet and inquisitive. At this age they are easy to break into a halter.'

I wasn't expecting him to be tame. I didn't even expect to be able to touch him at first, like lots of our other animals. When I got Tallulah and Ginger, Ginger was 2 months old but hadn't ever been handled. I got her quiet, halter and lead trained in a couple of months - I suppose it helped that her mother was so quiet. Ginger would approach me almost from the start, so she wasn't really scared, just touch-shy.

When MacLeod arrived, the guy told me he had 'basically no handling, but they are easy to handle' and described how he had two steer halter broken and quiet in a week. MacLeod was scared coming off the ute, but I managed to give his rump a scratch later that evening, and that got my hopes up.

Well, by the next day MacLeod definitely wasn't touchable. I suppose he was exhausted and in shock the previous night, which is the only reason he let me get that close.

I have read pretty much everything there is to read about handling and taming animals. I prefer the gentle techniques, which I have had success with every time. So I started immediately trying to get MacLeod to trust me.

The easiest thing to do first, of course, is use his stomach to get to his head! So I started offering him food - my special barley, oats, chaff and molasses mix. It took him 3 days before he even attempted touching the food, and even more before he would stay still and eat it all. I couldn't come within 20 feet of him without him running away, and sometimes he would move off if he saw me even further away than that.

It's been almost 2 weeks, and now on a good day I can come within a lunging whip range without him moving away, but sometimes he won't let me that close. He will sniff the whip and let me touch his face and poll and sometimes his neck, only if I stand directly in front of him.

I had hoped he would progress faster than this. He most certainly isn't 'fairly quiet and inquisitive, and easy to break into a halter.' I suppose he could be described as quiet, because he doesn't go running and bucking and snorting away when I approach, and he is not aggressive. He simply moves away at a walk, or trots if I can get really close.

He is not inquisitive - it was hard enough to convince him that the food was safe to eat. I approach him with the dish of feed, shake it and call his name. When I get as close as I can, I put it down and back away until he walks up to eat it. I stand near him, talking, and try to inch as close as possible while he eats, but he often turns away so I have to back off and start again. I do this twice a day, in the morning and evening.

He is in a very small paddock where the cows sleep, with a round bale, and it's also where I milk. Ginger stays with him during the day for company, so they are really going through the hay now. I go about all the chores slowly and calmly while I am in the pen - he will watch as I scoop up the manure, clean up the round bales, fill the water, feed Ginger and Tallulah, and milk Tallulah. He knows I bring food and water, and he sees me handling the other cows. I talk to him and spend time near him. I obviously can't spend all day with him, but I spend at least a half an hour every day.
Basically, I do everything everyone says you should do.

I will continue working with him every day. The improvements come slowly and in very small steps, but at least they are there. He is one of the most shy animals I have ever worked with - I'm just happy he is only nervous and not aggressive or really wild. But I definitely can't see anyone breaking a steer like him into halter in a week! It is far from EASY, so the owner really lied about that

I think I'm doing everything I can do at this point, but if you have any stories of wild, unhandled cows that you've tamed or if you have any special tricks, I would be very happy to hear how you did it! And please tell me it IS possible to get a steer this scared quiet and tamed? I have seen first hand wild, untouchable horses turn into quiet, calm horses in mere hours, but is it the same with cows?


And here is a cute photo of him and Ginger to finish off


Regards,
Tamara

[elnini]

Jack came to me somewhere between six and twelve months old, and had only been "handled" as in herded up the chute for ear tagging and vaccs. No actual attempt at hands on. As far as he was concerned the only time people had entered his life was to do mean things or take away his mum.

Now he wears a fly veil, can be brushed all over and stood like a rock while I pulled nasty spiny burrs out of his hairy armpits, with me crouched at his side with arms wrapped around his leg.

What I did was carry a plastic curry comb and use the herd as a trojan horse. I had a steer and cow at that time and they were both touch all over types so I piled all the biscuits of hay together so they had to be close to eat and then would brush the steer or cow from the side away from Jack and take every opportunity to swipe the curry comb down his butt next to his tail. Just one swipe as if by accident, not looking at him or facing him so when he looked at me I was busy brushing his neighbour and not even looking his way.

Once he stopped reacting I did two swipes etc until I could move around the back end of the neighbour and stand behind him brushing his butt. Then it was a case of doing a bit further forward each time, one extra stroke at a time, until I was getting past his hips, and then moving a little round from his butt and up his side. After that it was just pushing the envelope a tiny bit more each day.

He's still not halter broken, I figured he was easy enough to move around and comes when called so it wasn't worth the risk of losing his trust. I was suprised when he took the fly veil without a flinch as he's partially blind, but he'd seen the others wearing them and maybe had it figured out already that they were ok.

You might have to improvise with all that hair to try and find a scratchy spot, Jack was angus-hairy but the bristles could still reach his skin.

[Tamara]

It's good to know you have had success! MacLeod is similar to Jack - except he has never been tagged, vaccinated, wormed, or tick treated, so I'm pretty sure the only 'handling' he has experienced was being herded into the weaning yard with several other calves, and being somehow herded onto the ute to bring him here. Both were probably terrible experiences for him, so I understand his mistrust! He was stuck in that ute all day too, because the guy did the 4 hour drive up here in the morning, stayed the day nearby doing a job and delivered him in the evening - not exactly what I would have liked, but I didn't know until he arrived

I like the idea of feeding them together. They have access to the hay bales all day so the hay is no incentive though XD Which is why I feed them a little of the grain and chaff. Ginger is so fat she doesn't need it, but I give her a little as a treat. I'm just worried if I fed them right next to each other, Ginger would steal all his food - he's very submissive and a slow eater.

Plus, at this point I doubt he would even let me stand that close, even if I was on the opposite side of another cow. He is VERY shy. Even food doesn't keep his attention - if he gets upset from me being too close, he will leave whatever grain is left just so he can get away from me. I've never had an animal who refused the temptation of food at any cost! This guy will forget about food if it means getting closer to me.
But I will try it, if I can figure out how to stop Ginger from just eating all his food

[haecklers]

If they used a prod to load him he may think you have one somewhere on you and be extra fearful due to recent experience. Also, he may have never experienced grain or molasses before, so it's not that he's too shy to eat it, just that he didn't know about it yet. Shaking a bucket of grain makes a scary noise until the animal knows it means "Look what I've got that I want to give you".

I had a baby goat that had a bad banding experience. He was really super friendly before it happened but was so traumatized that he'd run away whenever he saw me approach for months afterward, and it wasn't even me that did it to him. It took a long time to regain his trust (tho now you'd never know, he is again as tame as his brother). I think if the fear comes from a bad experience, you just have to spend lots of time being non-threatening.

Maybe instead of trying to approach him while he's eating, put the food down and back away less each time. It will look like he's not going to come up but if you pretend you're not too interested in him, just loafing around there, eventually the call of the molasses will lure him over. Once they know the drill that you put the food down then get out of the way so they can eat it, they get impatient and start going to the food sooner. My highlands are piggies when it comes to treats, and their favorite are apples and slices of bread.

[Tamara]

Thanks haecklers! <3
I'm not sure how they loaded him up, I didn't want to ask He looked calm enough in the ute but as soon as the guy went to open the door he went crazy. He had a pretty nasty fall coming out too, so that probably gave him a scare. I know how one bad experience can make animals scared.

He knows the shake of the grain now, and me calling, and that grain = nice and tasty, but he still doesn't trust me enough for his greediness to overcome his fear. I tried elnini's idea today but as I expected, Ginger tried to steal his food immediately and finished way before him so I ended up taking her away He DID stand right next to her with me on the other side though. I might try feeding them on opposite sides of the fence tomorrow, so Ginger can't get to his food but she still acts as a safe wall between us. I know he prefers hiding behind the other cows when he needs to feel safe. I try to hang around him as much as possible and skirt around him when I need to do things, so he can see me move around him at a comfortable distance.

[eljay]

How about putting him in a smaller pen alone, with cattle companions just on the other side of the fence? That way you can go into the pen without looking at him. He only gets grain if he's willing to eat it while you're in the pen. Same with water, only while you are there. You can start out at a distance and gradually move closer.

[Tamara]

Thanks eljay, but I'm not a fan of that method I don't believe animals should be actually forced to go near me as I don't think it's the best way to build a trusting relationship. Sorry, but thanks anyway!

[eljay]

I had a feeling it wasn't going to interest you. You definitely have a challenge on your hands. I hope he decides you aren't dangerous soon.

[Jan V]

No new advise to add, but just had to say that I loved your picture! And your Ginger could be the twin of my Jersey x Dexter cross, Clarabelle.

[Debbie Lincoln]

Tamara - eljay's idea might actually be quite good - he wouldn't be forced - afterall, it's his decision to eat or not eat. Just my 2 cents.
It took me forever to tame a mustang filly I adopted years ago - and I basically hung out for hours in her small pen...sat and read a book! Her curiosity eventually won out and she sniffed me. Rejoice!
I don't do that anymore - not enough time. Now I use the "horse whisperer's" method which is to make it uncomfortable (NOT PAINFUL!) away from me and comfortable and safe near me - some call it "round pen reasoning". Don't know if it would work for a cow, though - especially a very shy one. He's adorable, though!!!! I know you must be dieing to hug him!

[Tamara]

It's okay eljay, thanks anyway!

Jan V, I'd love to see a photo! Ginger is cute, and a big chunky girl to boot XD I think she gets too much milk!

Debbie Lincoln, I have nothing against the round pen method used with horses - it's often called 'joining up'. I got a gelding trained this way and it was great, and I believe it to be a really good method of handling a horse! But only when they are put in the pen for training sessions, not actually leaving them in there. However, I saw little MacLeod when the seller went near him and he was in the ute cage, and he really freaked out. Firstly I would have to somehow get him herded into the round pen, which would probably scare him out of his wits. He won't even follow a bucket of food like all my other animals. And I don't know that it would work the same as with a horse. He's just so nervous about letting a human get close, and I don't want to do anything that will scare him further. I am absolutely dying to get him tame and touchable, but I think I'm going to have to be patient with this one and wait it out

Plus, I didn't have a big round pen to start with - now I have used over half the panels for the round bales, so I have a little square of 4 panels left to work with, which is barely enough for a holding yard let alone a round pen >.>

[Laura C]

You probably could easily train him but you would have to do what you don't want to do. What would work is to put him in a working chute and touch him and rub him. You put a halter and a long rope on him and tie him to a post. He would quit fighting in pretty short order and then you let him drag the rope and tie him up for short periods. Within a week he would accept your presence and lead. I realize you don't want to do that but that is how you would do it efficiently. I honestly believe this is the less stressful way.

Otherwise, you are dealing with him like a horse which he is not. The reason you can approach him from the front but not the sides is his flight zone. My experience is that some cattle will come around over time and some will not using the methods you describe.

Have you read the Temple Grandin books? She has good insight into cattle thinking.

What does "XD" mean? I see you use it in your posts frequently and have never puzzled it out.

[haecklers]

Be careful. Putting a scared Highland in a chute can be bad - I looked at some that were for sale and the person who bred them said they'll jump around and hurt themselves in a chute if they get too scared, or try to come out the top. I think having patience, at least for a few months to see how far that will get you, is the best approach. They can be calm and steady but also skittish, you have to know they have both in their nature. And I've heard they can leap fences like a gazelle, tho most don't. You sure don't want to push him into figuring out he's got that skill.

[Laura C]

I don't think Tamara has such a chute or would put the steer in it if she did. There is no fence jumping when you have the animal in a head gate and/or squeeze. I am just saying that is how you would do it in a week.

[dmbenson]

Just my 2 cent's worth -

If you don't put him in a smaller place and 'require' that he acknowledge that you won't hurt him and are the source of good things, my bet is he'll probably never be the kind of tame that I suspect you're looking for. After all, Why should he, what's in it for him? He can get the yummy feed without letting you close, he's got company (that's a heck of a lot more to his liking than any human apparently is), he's got his water and doesn't have to give up anything for it. He definitely 'thinks' (all animals do ) but not like people do, would be perfectly happy to live his entire life never feeling the touch of a human hand, most certainly doesn't want to be haltered, tied, led around or asked to do (or be prevented from doing) a single solitary thing, and frankly the odds of his making the "she brings me good munchies therefore I should allow her to love on me" connection are minuscule.

But best of luck.

[Tamara]

Laura C, you are correct in that I don't have a chute or anything of the sort, or the funds to get one. I only have 4 panels of the round pen and also can't afford to buy more (which he would probably try to escape from anyway and hurt himself), and I'd have to get my brother to build me a round pen from posts and wire and since he's only just fixed a fence for me, he probably won't be willing to do that for a month or three

I know it's the method most people use, but I have used my method with great success before. And I am not trying to insult the chute method or those who use it - I've seen it work really well - but I do know for a fact that a lot of patience can do wonders - maybe not ALWAYS, but it definitely can. I know I asked for your suggestions in my original post and I'm happy to here all your methods!
But when he was in the crate on the ute, he was just standing there looking calm enough. Then the seller approached the back of the cage to open it, and he went crazy, literally slamming himself against the edges of the cage and tripping over everywhere. It was scary, and I can't imagine how he would react if I herded him into a tiny space like that again and tried to go near him. Simply trying to herd him anywhere would probably stress him out.

Like I said in the original post, I have managed to tame a sheep, two lambs, Ginger, and I'm working on the donkey. They all made a lot of progress, but in some cases it takes longer. In a month the lambs went from untouchable to almost completely tame with the use of food, patience and simply edging close each day, touching them a little more each day, until they were simply fine with it. They didn't want to be touched before, but then they realised it was okay.

The sheep has been with us for 2 months, and when she came she was terrified. Her whole flock was eaten by dogs, she was the sole survivor, she had never been handled before, and went through a stressful ordeal of being caught, tied in a float, and then let off. At first I could get no where near her, but she would eat food. I stand near her as she eats every single day, and now after 2 months she will let me stand right next to her and stroke her face. She is still flighty and doesn't like her body being touched, but she has improved in leaps and bounds. And she is a SHEEP, one of the most skittish animals I know!

Ginger was pretty much the same - she had never been handled and couldn't be touched. In her case, the 'food' was actually milk and her mother. I simply spent a lot of time out with her, hanging around her and her mother and standing close when she started suckling. Eventually she got curious enough to sniff me, and then she let me scratch her neck, and it went from there.
I didn't halter and lead train Ginger by wrestling a halter onto her and letting her drag a rope around. I introduced her to the halter slowly, let her get used it it, slipped it on and off, and eventually she was okay with it. I taught her to lead by giving it a tug, and then a harder tug, until she took a step forward and then I praised her, and so on. Sure, it took me a few weeks rather than a single week, but she never had to fight while tied to a post or get her head jerked around stepping on a lead. She was very calm the entire time, never panicked, because she realised that I was doing things that were actually okay.

Oh, and none of these animals were ever put in confined spaces, they were all out in the same small paddock. Oh yeah, and I have never met a livestock animal so far who has wanted to be approached from anywhere but the front - it was the same with the lambs, sheep, donkey, Ginger, and all our horses. Yet all the guides I read to taming animals say approach them from the shoulder :\

Basically, if they want to continue getting the food, they have to put up with me coming closer. MacLeod tends to choose flight over food at this point, but so did all the others at first. MacLeod simply seems to be a case of being patient, until he chooses food over flight. Each day, if he is anything like the other animals, he will toss up the idea of running away from me, or getting yummies. Eventually he will choose the latter, and so it goes the next day, and the next day. Eventually he will have to accept me right next to him if he wants to eat.

I have personally NEVER met an animal who will choose flight over food forever. They all make the connection between me and good things. Eventually the stomach wins out. I can see him thinking about it when I hold his dish of grain - he licks his lips and stares as the food, but doesn't quite get the courage to take a step forward. I believe eventually he WILL get that courage! It will probably just require a lot of patience on my part. It has only been 2 weeks, after all. Ginger took a couple of months. Maybe in his case it will just take a month or two. So again, I mean no offence, I just want to try first.

If in a couple of months I have made no progress, I will rethink my methods. It's never too late after all, and if it really is working out THAT terribly, I will obviously have to do something different!


Laura C, haha! XD means 'A symbol with X being the eyes and D being the mouth, to make a seeming of the person having scrunched eyes and a mouth wide open laughing.' I guess I'm the only one who uses it! Like so:
4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVdW7yTkHSQ/TgRiFTLVNEI/AAAAAAAAABc/hONq7wXrXRk/s320/Happy_smiley_face.png

[elnini]

With Little Moo, Jack, Cindy and Edo I could never approach them from the face OR the shoulder, it was always the butt I got to brush first. This goes against conventional wisdom and what you'd expect, the rear end being somewhere vulnerable to attack, but it was consistant across all four young animals.

[Tamara]

Very interesting elnini! Whenever I try to approach scared animals from the back, they always move off - unless they can't see me. Oh, except the lambs... they did usually prefer me standing in front, but if I touched them they always preferred either directly on top of their heads or on the butt. Which are supposed to be both very vulnerable spots!
I haven't actually tried with MacLeod. I'll test today.

[Laura C]

I wasn't suggesting that is what you need to do or would do but more like what the guy who sold him had in mind when he said a week.

What are you planning to do with this steer? Is he going to be beef or a pet or were you hoping to ride or drive him?

[Tamara]

Thanks Laura Yeah, I imagine that's what he had in mind, but I still feel he wasn't really truthful about how wild this steer really was.

Definitely not beef! D: Oh my gosh, I could never kill him or any of our animals! We are vegetarian
He's going to be a pet. I doubt I'll do anything like driving, but if he was quiet enough to ride, it certainly wouldn't hurt. But that's not really in the plan unless he turns out really bomb-proof. If we open our Sanctuary to the public, I'd like him to be able to be handled and quiet enough for people to pet, feed, groom etc. Halter and lead broken. Basically like Tallulah and Ginger.