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Starting Member
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Last Login: 5/29/2011 12:12:14 PM
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| Me and my father are having a big fight / debate over my cow. I bought a young Dexter heifer and I am going to take deliveries this week. I have a 2 acre pasture fenced, with good grass, shade and a 150 gallon waterer with a float to always stay full. My dad id being insistent on how I need a pen to put the hiefer in. My Dad is the high strung type and he first came to me with My cow and a donkey WOULD DIE! and I would NEVER! See them again unless I put in a Loafing Shed and a Pen. At this point quit listening and it destroyed his credibility, because I don’t believe that to be true. (now he is mad because I won't do what he wants). (I live in Texas and I see 100's of thousands of head of cattle wihtout loafing sheds or pens) My reasoning is this: 1. A pin will be a mud hole filled with P and Poop in VERY short order. I will have livestock standing in a relatively small space with No Grass and standing in their own P and Poop when they could be grazing. 2. I have looked at cattle panel pens (These look like gates and they pin together). Because they are mobile and expandable and can be moved away from the fence line where the dog are likely to be. I can add these any time if I feel the need should arise. 3. I am concerned with shade. 4. I think a cow would be more comfortable and relaxed with the ability to wonder and graze as opposed to be in a pen next to a fence with the dogs looking on and possibly raising a ruckus. (Dogs are den animals they get comfort from being in a pen, much like their natural den). Cows are range animal, who I think would find a pen more stressful. 5. I have spoken to EVERYONE I see who has livestock about loafing sheds and ask what their animals do in inclement weather and they all said pretty much the animal stand with its but to wind and doesn’t seem to be effected, but the animal shows no desire to go in the barn or shed. 6. It is mainly going to be a pet, BUT it is not a dog, and I think of it as a cow and its makeup psyche(sp.) and needs are not that of a dog. His reasoning as I understand it: 1. It will be easier to catch. 2. You can walk straight up to mess with it. 3. He think it will be less stressed penned. 4. The cow was weaned about 10 days ago and will be Lonely and suffer speration anxiety 5. And MAINLY he wants hiis grand daughter (my daughter) to be able to walk up to the pen and pet it. What he doesn't address is the mud, smell, proximity to dogs, lack of ability to graze, the fact a cow is not a cave animal like a dog. He would help me build the pen, but I am reisitent. I just don't want to do it. (It is Hot, I pulled the auger off the tractor and it is a pain to put on, I don't want to commit to a permanent palcement of a shed, and I am being a bit stuborn. Am I being a Jerk by not wanting to build something?
There is nothing like the warm glow of a burning bridge.
Hung like Einstein, Smart as a Donkey
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If the heifer was weaned only ten days ago, it might be wise to keep her in a portable pen for a week or two, until she gets used to her new home. You can turn her out once she gets settled in and no longer misses her momma so much, otherwise she may crawl through the fence looking for mom. She really should have a small shelter for when the weather is really bad. If it gets cold in your part of the country, a small loafing shed would help her stay warm in, nasty weather. She wouldn't have to stay in a small pen for very long, and then you could let her out in the pasture. We usually always pen new animals for a few days, until we are sure they won't try to find their old home.
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The person above brings up a good point. Keep the cow pinned for a little while. Unless you have awesome fence...it will try to escape and it will suceed.
Do animals need shelter.....no. depending on the time of year we have between 2000 and 4000 cows and around another 200 horses not including the misc animals. All that strung out over 200k acres. Not a single loafing shed around and very few trees. We do have between 30 to 40 windmill wells going though...depending on how motivated I am that day. As long as your animal has food and water...its good. If you want to build a shelter....go for it. Will your animal prolly be happier with shelter....prolly. that is the difference between pets and livestock. Hell...ours even calf anf foul outside. The weather ranges from -40 to the 90s here. Animals are resilient and don't need a lot. It is your pet....do what you feel is right and always pick critters that are suited to your location. Animals like to roam about. Imo it is inhumane to keep them cooped up. Not to mention it will destroy your property and could lead to disease and parasites.
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Starting Member
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| I appreciate the input, I think I will put in a small portable pen. I had a pretty good size Priefert dog kennel I think would work, I just need to go look at it. I live in the Greater Houston Area where we do get rain, but no temperatures under 20 F. and there is plenty of shade. If I thought the animal would go into a loafing shed in bad weather I would put one up in a second, I just think I am going to work my rear off and the livestock will not go into it. Thanks, PS. I am starting to feel like a Jerk for the way it plaid out with my old man, but when someone tries to scare you into doing something thier way sometimes you lash out. (Putting in a pen is requireing me to eat a small amount of crow).
There is nothing like the warm glow of a burning bridge.
Hung like Einstein, Smart as a Donkey
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| Well if your keep the calf penned up, you'd better find some one who can trim hooves or learn by doing it yourself. Our son's show heifer has a 2 ac field with a shelter. No she does not stay in the shelter 24/7, but she is feed in there and if she wants to go in there she can. The shelter is to provide shade, a wind blockage and if we get snow a place to get out of it. As long as your daughter goes into the field and brings a treat or two and pets the calf, soon you will find out that the calf will pick her over you...LOL. Just have to be constant about her going out there. Put the catch here, is that I would not let the calf have the entire pen unless you fell like chasing it around and around. Just a word of caution, if the calf has just been weaned, watch how much food you feed it. You don't want a calf with the belly ache.
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| Yes, keeping penned until she sees you as a friend and the one who brings food, would be a very good idea. Also, if she is just weaned, a shed might not be a bad idea depending on your weather. But you are right, a grazing animal is happier and healthier if let to do what they do best. Graze, with plenty of space and shade trees. Don't forget a good loose mineral by the water source.
Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians and Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net
Morningland Dairy Raw Milk Cheeses. www.morninglanddairy.com
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Well, I got her Saturday morning.
I put her in a pen and spent some time with her, Petting her and being around her. By Sunday, I let her out in the pasture. I brought her back in Sunday afternoon. I let her back out Monday morning and brought her back in Monday night. And I let her back out this morning before work.
She is super sweet.
We just have to work on the halter breaking part.
Dragging her where I want her will get old real quick.
There is nothing like the warm glow of a burning bridge.
Hung like Einstein, Smart as a Donkey
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| Suggestion, when you bring her in at night, give her a can of feed as the weeks go by increase it since her stomach really isn't ready for full blown feed. When you release her from the halter, dump feed for her. You'll be amased that the calf will know time. Summer (son's show calf), is at the point at 6:15 am and 5:54 she's at the trough letting out a beller for her bucket. If can bribe her, she'll come eaiser to you our your little one. P2 gives Summer those horse treats made out of green apples and oats. 4 of them every time he goes out there. 1 to catch her, 2 when she set ups when tells her to set up or uses a 1/2 step and the 4th as a treat being released in her shed with her feed.
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krussell (9/7/2010)
Well, I got her Saturday morning.
I put her in a pen and spent some time with her, Petting her and being around her. By Sunday, I let her out in the pasture. I brought her back in Sunday afternoon. I let her back out Monday morning and brought her back in Monday night. And I let her back out this morning before work.
She is super sweet.
We just have to work on the halter breaking part.
Dragging her where I want her will get old real quick. Use food to bribe her. Horse treats are cheap and handy. Always keep some in your pocket. If nothing else she will associate you with food and follow you everywhere.
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