Expert: Karin - 7/11/2011

Question
QUESTION: My daughter is in FFA and they just recently went thru the steer selection process for the spring show.  She ended up getting a Maine-Anjou cross (with what, I don't know)and he is a bit of a hot head.  The steer is approximately 7 to 8 months old and honestly I don't think he was cut very long ago.  My daughter has the halter on him and is able to go in the pen and grab the rope (with a show stick) and get him over to the fence and tie him up.  For the most part he stands calmly when he is tied and you can scratch him with the show stick.  If she reaches out towards him to brush him, he starts throwing his head and will sometimes charge.  He has charged her a couple of times just walking in the pen and has also charge people he is not familiar with when they are on the outside of the fence.From reading your post, I understand this could be because he his afraid and unsure of his surroundings.  The breeder where we got the steers had told us he fought the rope the most but he was broke to lead, however I think they had to really cowboy him to get him to this point.  We have been able to lead him, however he does fight it from time to time and we can get thru that part.  My biggest concern, is the charging and I know about popping him on the nose to stop the charging, but I was concerned if I should avoid that due to his past history at the breeders as his nose seems to be very sensitive.  Or do I use this as my way of showing him who is boss and that he can't get away with it.  We have also considered having a ring put in his nose, but wanted to save this as a last resort.  Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: Hi Andrew,

Wowee! He certainly sounds like quite the handful!

Well, you know the very first suggestion that popped into my head when I read your situation was to get rid of the steer and start over again. I've a feeling that he's not going to get better, only worse over time. It really isn't worth your daughter's or your own life to keep such problem animal around.  If he's been a problem from the start, then why bother wasting your time with him?  There are better more calmer steers for your daughter to work with and show than him.  

The charging is a really big red flag that he is really far gone with his aggressive attitude. No, it's not out of fear and insecurity about his surroundings, it's real aggression that you're dealing with here.  Cattle that are fearful and unsure are those that will fly away from unfamiliar people.  With him, he doesn't do that: he charges, he comes after you.  Either it's borne out of extreme fear or what I wouldn't know, but it's likely due to a combination of things:

-Breed: Maine Anjou, like all French breed cattle, are known to be nervous and high-strung
-Learned history of being handled: Since he fought the rope the most it's most likely because he has a much higher intensity of fear and nervousness than his other siblings, thus making him harder to handle.  The aggression could have stemmed from this, with him learning that he can get his way by charging at people, and also being shy and extremely anxious about being touched because he expects he will be hurt.
-Breeding history: his dam could be a little more nervous than other cows that the breeder owns

Genetics can and do play a role in the temperament of a bovine.  How he was handled before he landed on your property was only part of the equation that made him like he is today.

I really hate to hear of your daughter working with such a dangerous animal, because what if he decides that today's the day that he's going to injure her or worse? A 7 to 8 month old steer can hurt you pretty bad, especially one that has taken to charging you, her and other strangers already.

So, since you said that ANY advice that I can provide is greatly appreciated, then I suggest to take him back to the breeder and explain why you can't keep him any more, and go find a more docile, friendlier and MUCH-easier-to-handle steer.  Try to avoid Charolais, another Maine, Limousin or Saler cattle UNLESS (and I strongly stress this) the breeder has docile stock that he or she raises that will make a good show animal.  Angus, Simmental, or any other breed with British breeding that shows signs of calmness and mild curiosity, fear and unsureness towards you is THE best to go with.  




I was going to add in an alternative to getting rid of him that you can think about, then deleted it, but I'll put it in anway:

I'm too afraid to say whether popping him in the nose will do anything, because with some animals, if they're too far gone like with your MaineX steer, it might just make things worse rather than better, especially since he's already very sensitive about his nose already.  You could try putting a ring in his nose to see if that will help any, but you really need to get him to accept yours and your daughter's touch, and to not be so mean with strangers, because this will be really bad in the show ring.  And accomplishing that will take a LOT of time, persistence and work: tying him up and letting the people walk by without looking at him (no touch, no talk, no eye contact), and you or your daughter being calm and assertive towards him and saying a firm "No" if he reacts, taking the time to get him used to being touched (keeping him tied the whole time) and using calm and assertive energy towards him, etc. I know that's easier said than done, but often if you are calm and not nervous, fearful, angry, tense or feel any sort of negative energy, you may be able to start to get him on the right track.  But just be aware it probably won't take a few weeks to get him over it.

If none of that works, I think it would be best to find another steer to work with.



Sorry for the really long reply, but I hope I've helped you a little bit, and the best of luck to you and your daughter with that steer!

-Karin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Unfortunately, I don't think returning the steer is an option as everything is done thru the school district.  If my daughter returned the steer she would be forfeiting her steer and would then have to choose another animal.  I hope I haven't over exaggerated my case.  The steer doesn't charge everyone at the fence, nor does he actually hit the fence.  Also with my daughter, he can get aggressive but she is able to get him calm and settled again with some patience and scratching of the show stick.  We are tying him up every morning for any where fsrom an hour to 2 or more and stroking him with a broom and then a brush.  he can get him calm enough to where she can brush him with an actual brush and he really seems to enjoy it.  If she goes to high on his head he can get a little aggressive, however he is always tied when she does this so she doesn't get hurt.  My daughter had the thought of tying him to the rail and then from the other side, scratch his head and run our hands all over his head to try to get him out of being so head shy.  We have also discussed putting the ring in his nose, however we are hoping to avoid it if at all possible.  

I have heard of people using calf calm and was wondering if using it occassionally while working with the steer would that possibly help if it is a positive experience for the steer?  Or over time, would it make him more immune to it and just mask the problem versus correcting it.

I really appreciate your advice and would love to have a phone conversation with you to discuss my challenges.

Thanks again!

Answer
Hi again Andrew,

From the follow-up the situation certainly sounds less alarming than what you initially wrote.  I think, now that you say it, that what your daughter is doing with the steer is very much the right thing to do.  Definitely patience, persistence and consistence will definitely be the key to get this steer tamed down enough to be able to be shown in the ring.

I will have to revise what I said above and agree to leave off with the nose ring.  Focusing on getting him to be less aggressive or anxious about having his head touched is one of the most important things that should be done. I really like your daughter's idea of tying him to the rail and trying to get him to get away from getting him from being so head shy.  

But another suggestion that I thought of earlier after I wrote the initial answer is to try using treats as you get him used to you petting his head.  Get a handful of grass or a handful of pellets to keep him occupied while you calmly try to scratch his head and muzzle.  This way he learns to associate head scratches with something positive like a tasty treat. One hand keeps his nose and mouth to the treats and the other scratching his head, starting at the cheek, working under the jaw then moving up to the head and muzzle.  Cattle are primarily food-driven and will train quite easily (or rather, more easily) when food is present.  And positive reinforcement is a way to get him to accept people's touch more easier.   Even give him a treat when he's brushed, if you haven't gotten to doing that already.  

Also, reward him with a treat everytime he comes back to you for more.  Don't reward when he tries to get away, otherwise it'll defeat the whole purpose of the exercise.  

Yes, your very welcome, and I would love for you to keep me in the loop on the progress you've made with this fella. :)

-Karin