Help with halter training a yearling gravid heifer..

[zyklonbetty]

Hi! 1st question about my first cow!!
Sophie is a Jersey who is very sweet and has warmed up to us very very well. ..comes running when we are out..lots of face kisses (AKA lots of residual slobber and grass on our faces) and loves being brushed (altogether a friendly girl.)
She is about 2, and gravid with her first calf (due in mid January.)
We have about 10 acres that are fenced and I plan on putting her out this weekend. She has been in the barn for a few days as I want to get her used to where to eat, drink and milk...

I would like to know the best way to go about halter training...I have done some searching on the forum and find a lot of info about calves, but can not seem to find any specifically on halter training an adult.

Does anyone have any good reference, experience or advice?
Thanks!

 

[redtailgal]

I tie an adult to a large STOUT pole and let her pull on it for awhile.

Then, once she submits and understands that forward movement lets off the pressure, I lead her towards feed, starting with only a few steps at a time and gradually increasing the distance.

 

[greybeard]

1. You should have put a halter on her the moment you got her, so she could get used to it while she was in the barn getting accustomed to you and her surroundings. You may have done so, but didn't so state--nor say how long you have had her.

2. 10 acres is a big area to be halter breaking a 2 yr old. Keep her penned up till she gets used to the halter and lead rope, otherwise, if she ever breaks away from you with the lead on, you are going to have heck in a handbasket getting control again.
3. Due date January? It's nearly Thanksgiving now. You are going to have to work fast. Once she drops that calf, her attitude and your altitude are liable to change considerably.

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

What I usually do with mine, first, get them used to the halter. putting it on, and off and leaving it on for awhile.
Then I tie a lead to a sturdy fence post, or a tree, give them a bite or two of grain at the base of where ever the lead is tied, and then snap the lead on to the halter.
I find they do pull back quite a bit so you have to make sure your halter and lead roape are sturdy.
I keep them tied until the arn't pulling back any more, give another bite of grain and unsnap the lead.
I repeat every day or couple of days. Until they don't even attempt to pull! Some take days, others learn the first day.
Once they know they cant get away from the rope, I walk up to them and snop the lead in my hand on to their halter. Have a bucket og treats or a bit of grain. get them to walk a few steps for a bit of grain while you pull on the lead, repeat every day and before ya know it they will lead everywhere without the grain!!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[zyklonbetty]

I've had her since Sunday morning. I have 2 separate areas, one would require walking her through an unfenced area to get to...so would like to get her used to it so that I can walk her over there. Thank you for the input...tonight when I get home I will try to figure the darn thing out to try to at least put it on her or get her used to it....I also considered just a collar and lead...but didn't know if that would be any less trying.

 

[greybeard]

Not having had her any longer than you have, I wouldn't risk walking her in an unfenced area.
She's apt to kick up her heels and go explorin a bit as soon as she hits that new territory.

 

[neener92]

I am not new to cows but new to trying to halter training. I got my first Jersey milk cow the end of September. "Cherry Pie" is 2 years old and when I got her she had a three week old calf on her! She had been hand milked but not on a regular bases, she wasn't used to being in a large pasture or around lots of cows, cats, dogs and me for that matter. So, I put her in one of our hay fields away from the other cows so I could work with her a little. I started by putting a halter on her and letting her adjust to that and I milked her in the field. Then I made her come to one part of the field were I tied her to a post....needless to say she hated that and pulled for a while. After she got used to being tied I actually trained her to lead using our four wheeler, if she pulled the four wheeler would pull harder. She now walks right beside the four wheeler without pulling. I make her go in one of the barn stalls to milk her now, I tie her (probably wouldn't have to) she just stands there perfectly. Hope this helps!

 

[Cricket]

Just a thought on the halter--I see used frequently a rope halter that tightens when you pull on it. They don't release when the cow gives, and I see no incentive for them to cooperate. I use regular fixed-buckle ones with a separate rope.

Another thing if you aren't used to Jersey's--they can 'play dead' when they aren't happy. Just collapse and lay flat out and NOT get up! It's usually just calves, but we had an 8 year old cow do it in the barn and lay there half across the gutter for a good hour, all because she didn't want to be tied up in a stall.

I'd also have grain or a treat in the area you are moving her to when you get to that point, so at least at first she has good reason to want to end up in the same place every time.

Good luck and have fun with her!