How do you get a 2,000 lb bull in a trailer?

[siroiszoo]

Question:

George the bull doesn't eat very much. I've only been giving him possibly the equivalent of one small coffee can of range cubes and now, once small coffee can of the corn. I know it is no more than that. He likes it but never finishes it all. Do all cows eat that little? If so, how am I going to get that bull in that trailer?

 

[laughingllama75]

tust me, he can eat more than that. He is either nervous, or full on pasture. I would bet nervous with you watching him (even if he does not appear so).
I wouln't worry about the ammount he is eating, just so long as he is coming for the grain. Keep working at it...don't give up!

 

[siroiszoo]

It likely won't be too long till the bull enters the trailer. He probably will spend a day or two "easing into" the trailer by first putting his front feet in. It may take a day or two till he enters it entirely. Is there straw, sand, or something else on the floor so it isn't too slippery? Straw will also help to deaden the sound of his feet on the floor.

I've had many trailers, and have hauled multitudes of cattle in them, and have never had a bull, cow, steer, heifer or calf escape from one. Not to say it can't happen, but if the trailer is in good condition, it should hold most any cattle, including George.

When you put the grain in the trailer, be sure to keep putting it a little further ahead each day, so he will need to get a little farther in gradually till he has to enter eventually.

Wish I could be there to help and watch the drama.

I sure wish you were here too! The trailer is what I would imagine a typical stock trailer floor to be - at least the older styles. It has wooden floors with up to 1/2" gaps in between the slats and rebarb (sp?) horizontally across at about 12" intervals to prevent slipping. I'd put something down but A) I'm so broke I'm barely making my bills, B) we don't have straw in these parts only hay which is runnin $8.50/bale last I checked and hard to find.

I went through the same routine this morning with George. Had to lure him up to the trailer with strands of alfalfa. Last night, we put the bowl further in the trailer and tied it off so he can't flip it out of the trailer to eat. Now he has to stand with his feet even with the back of the trailer to stretch his neck in and eat. But, I still have to be there - basically sitting on the edge of the back of the trailer with his head beside me. not sure how I'm going to encourage him the rest of the way in with me in that position cause I ain't going all the way in the trailer with him in it too. I would if there was an escape door at the front but there is only one way in or out of that trailer. I did add a little trail of feed leading to the bowl to help encourage him. I have lots of fresh, fragrant alfalfa nested around the back side of the bowl. I've just never new how finicky a cow could be! He doesn't seem to go for the alfalfa unless we are hand feeding it.

I guess P A T I E N C E! And lots of it. I imagine that's the only thing that is going to work.

 

[siroiszoo]

tust me, he can eat more than that. He is either nervous, or full on pasture. I would bet nervous with you watching him (even if he does not appear so).
I wouln't worry about the ammount he is eating, just so long as he is coming for the grain. Keep working at it...don't give up!

Could be nervous but once he comes up to eat, I usually just sit there petting my Aussie and ignoring him. I quit trying to ease away to give him room cause he quits eating and follows me.

Thanks for the encouragement! I won't give up until I succeed or the The Guy In Charge Of This Mess comes back and messes things up.

 

[siroiszoo]

It is very possible that George is missing the treats and the companionship. Unfortunately, TheManInCharge may not know this and/or may be the type that doesn't talk to cows. Sounds like he doesn't talk well to people either.
That, you cannot change.
We all hope you are successful in trapping George with kindness and food.

I think this is accurate and sums up the situation, well.

Thanks for the encouragement! I may be a cow-girl by the time all this is over with LOL!

 

[Imissmygirls]

Do I understand that George wants you to sit on the back edge of the open door of the trailer and pet your pooch while he nibbles grain next to you?

Really? Tell me I am mis-reading this!

 

[siroiszoo]

Do I understand that George wants you to sit on the back edge of the open door of the trailer and pet your pooch while he nibbles grain next to you?

Really? Tell me I am mis-reading this!

Yep, that's how it's been working 3 mornings in a row. The first evening, he was fine with my husband being there, but yesterday & tonight, while he will eat out of my husband's hand, he won't go near the trailer with my husband around.

Kinda frustrating but guessing I"m gonna have to do this all by myself. It's gonna take longer too, can't get the bowl further in the trailer or George just ignores it.

And imagine, I've been terrified of this beast for 6 weeks now. But Im still exercising caution. Guess I could always run into the trailer for safety since George is having nothing to do with it - LOL; just kidding.

 

[Imissmygirls]

Why do I have the feeling that if the Owner was on premises, he would walk this bull into the trailer on a halter?
It's starting to sound like George has been babied and made a pet by the Owner and then abandoned to a PersonInCharge who doesn't realize this!

No normal bull wants you sitting beside him WITH A DOG while he nibbles grain.

Just another thought... do you know someone with a nice tame cow that might coax George into the trailer? Tie the cow in the front and wait til George makes her acquaintance.

I'd really hate to see a *tame* [no such thing] bull put down just because they were too dumb to load him.
Please.... do not trust George, but I also suspect he is too smart for the PersonInCharge and the saga isn't over yet!

 

[siroiszoo]

Why do I have the feeling that if the Owner was on premises, he would walk this bull into the trailer on a halter?
It's starting to sound like George has been babied and made a pet by the Owner and then abandoned to a PersonInCharge who doesn't realize this!

No normal bull wants you sitting beside him WITH A DOG while he nibbles grain.

Just another thought... do you know someone with a nice tame cow that might coax George into the trailer? Tie the cow in the front and wait til George makes her acquaintance.

I'd really hate to see a *tame* [no such thing] bull put down just because they were too dumb to load him.
Please.... do not trust George, but I also suspect he is too smart for the PersonInCharge and the saga isn't over yet!

That's what we've been trying to get the Guy In Charge to do! Put a cow in the front of the trailer!!!!! But cant get him to do that either.

I don't think George has ever had a halter on him but the owner trained all his cows to come to his whistle. So I imagine that if the owner were here, he could get the bull in the trailer. I remember once when his cow jumped my fence and was eating my newly planted roses. I called up hysterical and he laughed, walked out on his back porch and whistled. That cow's head went up, she spun around, trotted back to the fence, jumped it, and trotted home.

Anyway, I think all the owner did was put them in the corral with feed, then use his dog to run them into the chute and trailer. The cows seem to have gone in nicely but I couldn't say the last time the bull was put in a trailer. I imagine when he was a little smaller than he is now.

Now, I can't whistle worth a toot; been trying for six weeks. The bull is smart so I don't know if just anyone could whistle. And quite frankly, The Guy in Charge of this has to be within eye sight of this bull for things to start going wrong. It's bad enough that the bull is cautious of every little change.

 

[siroiszoo]

Okay gang, this is as far as I've managed to get with George the Bull this week:

I put some regular coastal hay in the trailer, sat on the back of the trailer, and called George:

It's hard to get a good picture this close. I'm sitting less than a foot away from George:

Here is a little improvement. I'm actually able to get up and walk a little ways from the trailer without George getting nervous and walking away:

Look! I got even farther way!

WOW!!!! I"m thinking I should stop wasting my money and just give him what he's used to - range cubes and coastal hay!
I made all the way back to my feed room and he never stopped eating!

I did have to put the bowl & hay back to this position. Any further in the trailer and he would just ignore it; going without.