Post by Tamara on Mar 2, 2016 0:20:11 GMT -5
For small offenses I usually just clap and yell loudly/angrily. I call it the 'blow up method' - when they do something wrong you really go berserk, it totally freaks them out LOL! That usually gets them to back right off. But it's very effective as an additional option to getting physical. ACV is probably good if he's being a real pain but I do think that the lingering smell of ACV may not be the best method later on. I only resort to hitting for really dangerous behaviour (my cows have never jumped on or near me but that probably would count as really dangerous) and never on the face, but that's a personal preference. I know my jersey cow will beat off the highland steer if he gets too close to her, or her food, or whatever she doesn't want him near, and they are definitely not buddies afterwards; he has learned to keep a good distance from her. So, loving on them when they are being good is very important as I do believe cattle learn to dislike other cattle (or people) if they are picked on too much.
I wouldn't let him play by running around with you. It will only encourage him to jump about and/or on you as he will see you as a play toy. You want to be a nice quiet friend who offers treats and scratches, but no rough and tumble play Plus as he grows, a big, excited bucking steer could accidentally run into you or whack you with a flying hoof and that would not be fun. I don't mind my animals running and playing but I don't let them do it near me.
Most importantly you always need to remember that he's not a dog. It's cute and fun to play with them but not fun when they are huge and heavy. The most loving cow can seriously injure a person out of total accident.
"How can I train my steer to go or come with simple commands?"
Teaching him to come is easy - every time you go to his pen, bring a little treat. Call his name - repeat it several times. If he starts coming over, great. You may need to show him the food or rattle it in a bucket. But over time he will learn that when his name is called = treat, and eventually he should just come to his name even without the treat. Make sure you use the same tone of voice each time.
'Go' is a little trickier. What you probably want is actually 'back off/up'. In this case you should handle it more like training a horse. Get a crop or a stick and nudge him in the chest or shoulder while telling him 'back up' or whatever you want your command to be. Start with a light pressure at first and build it up until he moves. At first you may actually have to give him a shove but make sure he doesn't think you're trying to play. Once he moves off, you can approach and give him a scratch or a little treat. Once again, after a while he should back off on your command or with a light tap. Repetition is key here and it might be difficult to really get him to respond to commands since you don't see him very often, but with time he'll probably learn.
I wouldn't let him play by running around with you. It will only encourage him to jump about and/or on you as he will see you as a play toy. You want to be a nice quiet friend who offers treats and scratches, but no rough and tumble play Plus as he grows, a big, excited bucking steer could accidentally run into you or whack you with a flying hoof and that would not be fun. I don't mind my animals running and playing but I don't let them do it near me.
Most importantly you always need to remember that he's not a dog. It's cute and fun to play with them but not fun when they are huge and heavy. The most loving cow can seriously injure a person out of total accident.
"How can I train my steer to go or come with simple commands?"
Teaching him to come is easy - every time you go to his pen, bring a little treat. Call his name - repeat it several times. If he starts coming over, great. You may need to show him the food or rattle it in a bucket. But over time he will learn that when his name is called = treat, and eventually he should just come to his name even without the treat. Make sure you use the same tone of voice each time.
'Go' is a little trickier. What you probably want is actually 'back off/up'. In this case you should handle it more like training a horse. Get a crop or a stick and nudge him in the chest or shoulder while telling him 'back up' or whatever you want your command to be. Start with a light pressure at first and build it up until he moves. At first you may actually have to give him a shove but make sure he doesn't think you're trying to play. Once he moves off, you can approach and give him a scratch or a little treat. Once again, after a while he should back off on your command or with a light tap. Repetition is key here and it might be difficult to really get him to respond to commands since you don't see him very often, but with time he'll probably learn.