Training a calf for sale

[BeardedChick]

She's still small enough to drag around.

Ok, DH and I drug her around for about half and hour. Next time: the ATV is doing the pulling.

They can be stubborn and they have great breaks!

No joking! She set those little front legs into the ground and that was it.

Heck of a way to plow up the corral.

 

[Imissmygirls]

IMHO...
Why are you training a calf for sale?
It's the 4H 'ers responsibility to train it.
When we looked for a good show prospect, the training of the animal wasn't even considered. What did we look for? CONFORMATION.
That was 75% of what we wanted, the other 25% was milking ability. Inbreeding would have made us pause a bit, but with so few Dexters, that may not be a problem. I know with Jerseys and AI, there aren't that many different lines out there anymore- they have all been interbred to the point where the AI groups are importing European and Aussie lines for variety.
A young 4Her will likely choose a young calf, and an older 4Her will know what they can handle. DD MReit was known for choosing a likely show candidate from her employer's yearling Holsteins and breaking her to show in a month or three. That gal can train any cow.
Her one sister started 4H at age 8 by being drug out the lane, down the field, and around the showring by a yearling Ayrshire. By the time the she calved the next year, the heifer wouldn't let anyone BUT her *owner* near her.
It all depends upon how much the child works with the animal... and isn't that what 4H is about?

Sorry, pet peeve is 4Hers who don't work with their projects -- and the parents who let them get away with it.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

She's also considered showing the calf herself or selling it for a family cow. If I were out looking for a family cow one that is easy to handle is one thing that I would look for.

 

[MReit]

Calves are like kids, couple times a day for short periods and training is a bit easier. Line bred isn't good for showing nor selling if anyone with a clue looks at the ped.

 

[username taken]

Just for those who dont like linebreeding ...

We've been linebreeding for longer than I can remember. And we have some of the best animals in our breed. Its not for beginners though because you need to know what you are doing.

ETA: All of these animals have been shown successfully and won numerous ribbons.

Here are a few of our females:

And a couple bulls:

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Line breeding can work, as you have shown, but, also as you pointed out, it's something you need to know what you are doing. The results to the calves of line breeding can be disasterous otherwise so it's not recommended especially for newbies.