| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| sherrye |
Posted - Jan 29 2011 : 07:21:45 AM
i know its a heated subject. i know its a pandoras box. i am asking to hear AGAIN horns no horns. money is so tight. i have 2 dexters going to calve. one polled by way of belted lines. hippo is well hippo huge she can be heady but her size is scary. these are pasture cows never milked. will tolerate some touching. then their is maddie. she has horns. she uses them a lot in pasture to dominate. now i know you will comment grace. i want to hear it again. this is a huge decision. i need a milk cow bad. belle will be dry for 3 months or so. then calving in sept. oct. i literally cannot go without my milk. some know my medical story. i have to have it. SO i need to train a cow to milk. one of these if i can. i own them they are pregnant due in a month or tomorrow. not sure on hippo. she was pasture bred by our bull mr. bullseye bill. i have been watching a video on training calves to halter. i have my pen set up with a ring. i can get on my tractor bucket and do the glove on a stick with them. so i will be starting that. any thoughts on the horns. she has a good bag has some attitude. i really like maddie she is a white park dexter. white with black spots and a black nose. she seems to want to be my friend. hippo is a little more alouf. i know there are those that handle cows all the time.i would love in put.we need to remember i am kinda broken. so for me life and cows is a little harder. if i choose maddie do i take her horns off? if i do it would be now while no flies. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
|
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Tall Holly |
Posted - Feb 09 2011 : 4:02:17 PM
I had a jersey who had horns. she kept all of the wild things away from the sheep. We did not have to worry about coyotes at all. I milked her. only aproblem when she was in heat.
I put a bucket of grain in front of the cow to milk her. I think she thinks I am one of her calves. If this cow had horns they took them off at a young age. We bought this cow a week before she birthed. The farmer had rubbed her belly from time to time but no intense handling. We had a great time trying to get her into the barn when the farmer brought her the first day. She had never been halter trained. Still she does not lead but now a can walk behind her and she will go where I want. Mostly routine. She does like her grain at milking time and before night.
Holly
|
| sherrye |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 06:43:51 AM
well after serious thought...i shall not try to train this cow. so she can keep her pasture horns. i did go to the site pioneer woman kris. i saw those horns. i am glad i did. when there is timing and money i may have maddies trimmed back if possible. maybe not if she is a good girl. i am going to get sadies banded. she is less than a year. i am definitely going to train her to milk as she grows when weather permits we are bringing her in. she needs to be with me every time i am in barn. she wants the friendship. so thanks again for all the input. i am going to milk belle up to the closest i can. we preg check soon. if she is not bred back yet. then i have more time. so thanks so much for all the help. happy days for maddie no headache. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
|
| Wende |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 6:29:37 PM
HI Sherrye,
I am not as voiced on this, but have been pretty banged up by horns. Polled still hurts, but reduces the emergency room visits. I just got in the way. LOL
Have you thought of a Brown Swiss ??? Good temperment. Maybe see if you could rent one for a bit. Some farmers will allow it if you talk to them about the situation.
Wish I was there to help you out.
Have you tried tieing the girl to the tractor for a few days??? This calms cows down quite a bit.
Have food ,water and shelter.
Wende
You know your a Farm Girl when...
|
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 08:25:18 AM
Sherrye, go to the Pioneer Woman's blog. On today's post she has a picture of one of their cows with sawed off horns. Looks like it was done a long time ago. But whoever did it has done a good job.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 02 2011 : 10:22:27 AM
Sherry- I saw two Jersey cows advertised at my vet in Wyoming's office for $700 each. There is also a livestock auction here in town where animals have been going for very cheap. Also I know Washington State University in Pullman Washington has a dairy and perhaps you could get a retired dairy cow from them?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| sherrye |
Posted - Feb 02 2011 : 06:21:49 AM
well farmgirls, i love all the ideas. yes i considered sawing half off. i also posted her on craigs. i said i would trade a white park/dexter bred back for a cow in milk during july and oct. belles dry time. lisa is also getting tired of milking fancy. she is a huge jersey girl. very sweet just has some gurnsey in her. i have such a small milk parlor. she thinks she may be too big for me. i like finding choices. pam a farm girl friend here did cut horns back once. she said it was a bloody mess. the vein in the horn goes from the sinus to the tip. grace is right about cows needing them. they cool themselves with them. ideally a polled mini jersey cross would be ideal.lol i just know something will come up. so alee billings is not that far. if i found one sometimes folks will meet us half way. so if you find any??? i did get one email from a gal i am going to call her today. she has a dexter that she can handle. never milked bred back. i will keep ya posted. thanks happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
|
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 01 2011 : 12:31:18 PM
Linda- I was thinking the same thing- sawing off the ends to blunt the horns.
Sherry- I sure wish you lived in my area since cows are very cheap around here. :(
If you supplement Belle enough I bet you could keep milking her right up until she calves. Just make sure she is getting enough nutrition. That gives you an extra year to tame your other cow and let your babies grow more. You could also put out a free add on craigslist. "Good Home for Milk Cow". You never know when people are going through a hard time and have to down size. Who knows? You might be lucky and save a nice cow from slaughter at the same time!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Feb 01 2011 : 09:15:55 AM
Sherrye, I know this may sound crazy but a friend of mine years ago tried glueing tennis balls on the end of the horns. Later she found a company who sold caps just for this purpose. I wonder if just cutting the ends off where there is no blood or artery and then they would be blunt. Just a thought. Good luck and be careful.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| sherrye |
Posted - Jan 31 2011 : 07:25:50 AM
thanks to everyone for the input. i wish i could just afford another milk cow with 4 good handles. so far no. i am going to wait to remove the horns. i am going to try running her in to the stanchion etc. and see her behavior first. it is a little scary. i just cannot be out milk this summer. i thought about milking belle right up to before calving. that would be hard on her though. so still thinking. yes they are easy going cattle or i would be hard pressed to handle them. she comes to me in field now. she is very food driven so that helps some. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
|
| amomfly |
Posted - Jan 31 2011 : 04:14:56 AM
Sherrye- I dehorned a beef cow that was older. I wouldn't do it again. It was a mess and the vet was not nice. I think this had more to do with my having miniature cattle and he din't approve of any miniature breed.
I have also broke pasture raised beef cows. It is hard. It is dangerous. Add horns to the mix, it is worse. I think I would call a trusted vet and ask for suggestions.
Aren't most Dexters gentle? I did come across one that was not gentle, but I have seen many that were.
I also wonder if horns wouldn't be a danger going in and out of head gate to milk? HMMM
Good question, sorry I have no answers. Just my experience. Good Luck!
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
| windypines |
Posted - Jan 30 2011 : 4:16:01 PM
Sherry, tough question. I dehorn at a young age. I have the vet do it, and he uses a saw. He does give them shots in each horn area to help deaden the pain, and a shot to relax them. I hate to have to do it, but a cow with horns can be very dangerous. Like you say, they know how to use them. Then again I would only do it at a young age. I think it would be much harder on an older animal. My friend's cow has horns, and you do have to be careful, but she has not had any problems.
Trying to tame down a mature pasture cow.......never say never, but you will have your work cut out for you.
Be careful
Michele |
| Daizy |
Posted - Jan 30 2011 : 06:06:43 AM
Sorry Sherry Yep, I'm confused AGAIN...but it is still a challenge and back feet are the worst so be CAREFUL! And I don't think our area vet. would drive to Oregon. Check out dairy farms in your area, get a more settled cow, for safety sake....Love and Prayers, Daizy Sorry again for my confusion
PHR Farmgirl #1093
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron?? |
| sherrye |
Posted - Jan 29 2011 : 7:41:42 PM
so daizy, you are confused. kris was talking about my cow. she is a mature pasture cow. i would love another jersey. well money is a problem. belle will be dry just before calving. i need milk during that time. i love working with cows. i have 5 calves 3 of which will be milkers including my mini jersey calf sophie from belle. i need milk in july through oct. if i have them removed it would be at the base of her skull. we shall see. i am going to see how she handles the squeeze chute for food. then the stanchion. then if she is promising then i may do it. not sure yet.thanks for your ideas daizy. kris your right about me getting hurt not a good thing. she is getting more friendly now. she eats out of my hand follows me through pasture allows me to touch her some so still looking for ideas on training her. thanks girls happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
|
| Daizy |
Posted - Jan 29 2011 : 2:36:04 PM
Dear Kristin, Some food for thought here. I raise beef cattle and one year I waited to dehorn the babies til they were about a year old and had the vet come out to cut and cauterize them, the horns were rather large at the base. It was a messy process but he is very good and in your area also. The calves healed up good but I waited way to late because I thought I had them sold and the buyer backed out, leaving me with older calves AND horns. How old is your most gentle cow? How large are the base of the horns? Is she tame enough to milk even without horns? I tend to agree with Grace that you should find a very gentle, already milking dairy cow that you won't have to train....a daunting process with a mature cow. There is a dairy over here named Wrights Dairy that may give you advise as well. If you have a calf with no horns later, than you could try to train her to lead and milk by always rubbing her on the belly and such... If you want the vets name I'll be glad to send it over.. Love and Prayers, Daizy
PHR Farmgirl #1093
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron?? |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jan 29 2011 : 1:37:14 PM
Sherrye, how would you dehorn her? She's already older, right? You'd have to band them. That's the only way right now. And that's pretty painless from what I hear. I am lucky and both my heifers are polled. I think Mazie's calf will be also since the bull is polled. I know with your health and your ability to get hurt alot, I would only have polled cows to milk. They can use their horns when they are spooked or stressed. And there you would be. And you do NOT need to get gouged by a scared cow. Maybe you should just look for a cow that's already been dehorned and trade the other cows for it.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Jan 29 2011 : 07:29:58 AM
Sherrye I wished I had a some advice to give you about COWS and horn but this is an animal who I have never raised and so I do not feel I can comment. Yes, you know my thoughts on horns for those who I raise and why. I have also friends who raise Yaks and Yak crosses - they never take their horns and yes they do milk some but only those who have the temperment and also the milk production to do so. In their native country all female Yaks are milked because it is their only source of milk.
I will be reading other comments to learn from those who know. Now if you ask me about goats or sheep them I am your gal on the Keep Their Horns Side....
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
|
