(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

OT Need Some Ideas on a Pesky Bull

T

Texasmark1

Well-known Member
Ok guys, I have this small operation and a few head of cattle. We bought them last spring and put the girls and the boy together. They are in the pre-bag, pre-springing stage...just starting, no doubt they are in a motherly way.

They have been loving it up all year and I have experienced 2nd and 3rd cycle romances caused by a little residual "scent" but this guy is just....H>>>>>.

In the last couple of weeks he has finally started ignoring them. Guessing his weight at about 1200 now and gentle as a puppy. Gets hand fed every morning and we mingle; he is not aggressive.

He has started developing this problem where he has to push things around with his little polled knob. Turning feeders over and destroying the little house I built to cover the salt like is one thing, but now he has started pushing on the gates.

I have a hot wire and will install it across the inside of the gates today as it already is on the inside of the fence.

Anybody have any "Boy's Toys" ideas that may keep him busy. He isn't going to be a "bed hopper" so I'm not going to go and get him some more girl friends.

Thanks,

Mark
 
If you have never been around bulls before, know one thing for sure, don't trust them, they can turn mean in the blink of an eye and kill you. NEVER turn your back on one. That is what bulls do, destroy stuff. Ours are always tearing up something.
 
(quoted from post at 07:50:46 04/20/12) Ok guys, I have this small operation and a few head of cattle. We bought them last spring and put the girls and the boy together. They are in the pre-bag, pre-springing stage...just starting, no doubt they are in a motherly way.

They have been loving it up all year and I have experienced 2nd and 3rd cycle romances caused by a little residual "scent" but this guy is just....H>>>>>.

In the last couple of weeks he has finally started ignoring them. Guessing his weight at about 1200 now and gentle as a puppy. Gets hand fed every morning and we mingle; he is not aggressive.

He has started developing this problem where he has to push things around with his little polled knob. Turning feeders over and destroying the little house I built to cover the salt like is one thing, but now he has started pushing on the gates.

I have a hot wire and will install it across the inside of the gates today as it already is on the inside of the fence.

Anybody have any "Boy's Toys" ideas that may keep him busy. He isn't going to be a "bed hopper" so I'm not going to go and get him some more girl friends.

Thanks,

Mark
Click to expand...

He is just being a bull. If he was a horse I would cut back on the sweet feed. I have had them so bad they would charge the tractor. Darn thing ruined several grills for me. We would eventually grind them when they got to bad. I always thought the next one would have a better disposition, but that never was the case.
 
Don't mess with him, he will only get worse and they play rough. With a small operation it would be a good idea to sell him and buy back when you need another bull Imho.
 
He's Brangus and by nature are docile. Have had the breed for
30 years and never had a bad one.....now if you mess with a
mother's calf better be paying attention and at the very least
keep the calf between you and mom.

One day, early afternoon, a couple of calves were taking a siesta.
Mom happened to be close by. I touched the calf with my toe as
I couldn't tell the little sucker was alive.

Mom promptly backed me down into the pool to about knee
deep and gave me that "don't you touch my baby" look.

Thanks for the replies. He's a pet and on the dinner table is not
an option. I have a couple of feeders that I built out of 3/16 x 2"
angle that I'll put out in the lot for him to turn over.

Mark
 
How long has it been since he's been poured? I know if my bull gets mange no stone (or anything else) goes unturned until the itching stops. Last spring I got worried he was going to take the power lines down by scratching himself on a pole support cable :)
 
We have one of those Jolly Balls that we bought for our horses. Basically it's a big rubber ball molded with a handle. One day they rolled it under the fence into the cow pasture, and our bull has been rolling it around since. Had a problem with the mineral feeder until I staked it down. Seems like if he can't move something in the first few tries, then he will leave it alone from then on.
 
(quoted from post at 11:25:37 04/20/12) Don't mess with him, he will only get worse and they play rough. With a small operation it would be a good idea to sell him and buy back when you need another bull Imho.
Click to expand...


I'll second what this poster stated. SELL HIM
 
You are right, don't trust him. The man that rented our pasture had a 2,000+ lb red brahman that was gentle as a puppy. One day it was playing with him. It tossed him from behind and broke his hip. Nothing mean about it but he was still laid up for a while.

slim
 
First mistake was making a pet out of him. All that I've seen that were pets will some day try to kill you. They have no fear of you at all, and just playing can hurt you bad.
 
Dave in Tx and others of similar theme are correct. The pet bull can injure, maime or kill just via goofing around. Better that the bull thinks of you as a superior that can best him in any situation. My maternal GrandFather was crippled by a pet bull that was shown on the halter at fairs.
 
Load that bull into the trailer and take him to the sale. A hand fed bull will either hurt you or make you hurt yourself. If he has bred all of the cows, he is not needed. Take him to the sale. Buy a bull when cows come back in cycle.
A hand fed bull or cow is a dangerous event waiting to happen. BTDT and lived over it. It can happen in less that a heart beat.
Again, SALE that bull.
IMHO
Good Luck
 
That's about the size of it. I have a 200# tub of chicken feathers (high protein tub made from chicken feather meal, molasses, vit. minerals and all) and he has tumped it over a couple of dozen times. I tied it to the working pen....steel pipes...and he figured out how to get it untied and overturned.

Thanks,

Mark
 
And do what, buy another that will do the same thing? When I say pet I mean he is around us, all the time, not out in the praries of Montana. Selling is not an option and we don't get penned where there is not an outlet.

We have a stick when feeding and if they don't behave, cows too, they get whacked across the nose and a firm NO!!!. That could be while trying to get into the lot to feed, getting nudged from behind walking to the trough, or just not doing what they are told. They back off a couple of steps and let you go about your business.

Thanks,
Mark
 
We know that he outweighs us 6:1 and keep that in mind. Deliberately avoid touching him around his nob.

My grandmother and granddaddy had sheep. One day while feeding, the ram smacked her in the side of her knee. Was in a walker the rest of her life....so I know to beware.

Had a neighbor a Jersey dairy farmer that was killed by his bull, but that was a Jersey, known for their personality.

Thanks,
Mark
 
He is purebred Brangus and has already slicked off. We spray every day or so while feeding.....one of the two reasons for feeding a token meal in the mornings. The other reason is to keep them familiar with us being around and their being in the catch pen. The girls are cross between Angus, Beefmaster, and Limousine and are still long haired.

What's funny is that the Bull attracts horn flies like a magnet and the girls seldom have any and if so not many. Figure that one out....he must be sweet. Grin.

Thanks,
Mark
 
We weighed all the options when restarting the farm. Bought the heifers about 3 months prior and decided that we would be better off with our own animal so we bought him. As stated, selling is not an option.

Now if he was mean or a fence hopper, which is a concern if he pushes the fence over, then selling would be a consideration. Course it's raining today but tomorrow I am going to include the inside, not current outside stretch link, gate in the hot wire I have surrounding the place.

Thanks,
Mark
 
The term pet means that we are around him at least once per day for about 5 minutes. He is not wild.

Thanks,
Mark
 
We don't play with him; just feed him/them a token breakfast for reasons stated. I have had bulls for the past 30 years and have always been dilligent on the fact that he is unaware of his own strength and I am no match for him. My lady is a farm girl too having had her own registered Limousine heard of 50+ animals and some grade cows. Sold breeder bulls all across the country.

Thanks,
Mark
 
Everyone is different and everyone's opinion is the gospel...... You gotta know if you're safe or not and you know your animals better than anyone else.... Besides, life/death is a number game anyway.... the big guy spins the wheel and, if it lands on your number, you's a gonner.... Whether it's the bull or a bee sting is just gonna be a matter of timing.....
Get him a pasture ball to play with and keep paying attention to him.......he's yours.....
 
I know a couple guy still alive that will tell you just how much of a pet a bull is. The rest are dead.

True story - Friend of mine has had Herford’s for 10+ years. Few years ago he had a heifer that died during birth (bull calf). None of his others would foster it. He bottle fed it, took it in at night (single digits), and generally treated it like a pet. Any time he was out it would come up and rub on him and let him rub on it (most shy away). Needles to say around 18 months it nearly ki11ed him. Knocked him down and proceeded to stomp him in the ground. He made it to the feeder and crawled up under part of it. He said that bull was down on his front knees trying to get under there with him and was lifting the feeder off the ground every time. Only thing that saved his life was his 357. He didn't shoot it but it took five shots to scare it off. He said #6 was going in its head if it kept coming. To this day I do not understand why he waited to the last shot, what if he missed. BTW - He started carrying a gun because a nieghbor was ki11ed by a bull just 6 months earlier and does not get in with them unless required (setup feed operations so he doesn't have too).
 
A single bull with a group of cows is very dangerous. You never know when he will snap and kill you. A single bull sees you as a threat to his ladies. Seen it locally. Best thing you can do is buy another bull. That way there is competition, they will be constantly watching each other, not destroying your facilities or killing you!
 
A few years ago my wife wanted to buy a few Llamas. We bought a couple girls and an intact male and a gelded male named Wheaties (he was solid as a rock). The boys and girls were always kept seperate until one day a friend wanted to borrow the intact male to breed at his place. My wife felt bad that the Wheaties was left alone and let him into the girls pasture. A few days later I was out there working on something when Wheaties charged. I am 6"2" and 200 lbs. I left my feet and ended up 6 to 7 feet from where I started. He then jumped on me and wrapped me up with his front legs while biting at my face, neck and shoulders. I have been in several fights in my life but, that by far was the toughest physical altercation I have ever been in. Obviously, after enough punches to the face got me out of that situation.

Moral to my story? Wheaties was always super friendly when with his intact buddy but, with the girls I became competition. You just never know. He was maybe 300 lbs. Messing with a 1200lbs bull is too dangerous in my opinion.

Get rid of him!
Dave
 
I agree with others - don't ever think you're safe near him!

You MAY be - but a bull can get ticked off in an instant. Don't ever expect controlled human like emotions from him. And don't ever think he respects you or "likes" you.

If he flips, he might even be nice and just give you what might be a warning shot to other bulls - but a deadly blow to somebody a small fraction of his weight.

You say he's not aggressive - but know that all that head butting and pushing he's doing IS a sign of aggression.

Bulls exert their dominance with their heads - just because he's polled doesn't mean he doesn't think he has horns. He thinks he's using them.

It may look like he's playing and having fun - but what he's doing is proving his manhood - making that salt lick cover his b... for lack of a better way to put it.

He's scaring off challengers. Walk up to him the wrong way, and that's exactly what you're going to look like.

He's only doing it to inanimate objects because there's nothing better to boss around, like another bull.
 
I agree with the others, Take him in and make him into Steaks and Hamburgers. Getting crushed by a 1200 lb. animal would not be an enjoyable experience.
 
Hope your life insurance is paid up as somday you will need it.All bulls are mean it is just a matter of when.We have had both beef and dairy bulls for 25+ years.This bull is telling you he is mean sooner or later he will hurt someone.We go thru alot of bulls and as soon as they show any signs(head down and twisted to side, bawling or pawling) they are gone. Life is to short and hospitals to expensive.
 
THIS BULL WILL EVENTUALLY TRY TO KILL YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE!

I knew a fellow was keeping a Guernsey bull in his pen for a neighbor. It went berserk one day. My daddy was working for the bull"s owner, and was sent down their to haul the bull to the stock yard. The bull charged the fence, and he wouldn"t go near the chute. Daddy went in riding an H Farmall, and the bull nearly turned it over several times. A 12 ga. Iver Johnson Champion, and several loads of birdshot finally got him in the chute, and when he hesitated at the bottom, and started to back out, that same gun castrated him. He was still wild when they got to the stock yard, and he was sold on the truck, and walked up the chute to a meat packer who was located next door.

I had a school teacher who"s brother was killed by a Guernsey bull he raised from a calf, and a friend who was nearly killed by a beef bull he bottle raised. That"s just the way bulls are! They will get someone sooner or later! SELL him, EAT him, or CUT him! SOON!
 
you still have him?
friend of mine lived with his uncles.
one day when they were running late after baling hay his uncle Bob went to get cows in barn to milk.
the bull was used to Bob scraching bull's head well Bob tryed to chase bull out of way the next thing Bob know he was on top of barn cleaner.
the bull was gone the next day. the out come could have been a lot worse
 
We had a relatively shy brangus mix, never gave no sign of trouble, but he had a habit, of sneaking up behind you, and snorting, real low, and gentle. He did that to me in a corner of the pasture, that was a dead end ( no way out 'cept past him). I was about 18, at the time, and in as good a shape, as ever. I spun around, and drop kicked him in the nose, like my life depended on it. I gave him a bloody nose, that he carried on the truck, shortly thereafter. Get rid of a troublesome bull on the first strike, and save yourself the trouble of catching him later, when he decides to push out your corner posts, and find some new love!
 
Ive had 3 bulls over the years.The last one tried to kill me 3 times.On try 3 I shot him with a 303 Enfield.I treated all 3 well but # 3 almost got me.The 303 dropped him with one shot.
 
A boy got killed by a bull when I was 12 or so.He lived about a mile from me.His mother took a shotgun out to the barn later and killed her self.She had another son but couldnt stand the loss.I saw the town ambulance go by my house.I can see the ambulance like it happened yesterday.Ive had a Holstein bull try to get me when I cleaned his water bowl.I used AI most of the time.
 
We bout all have bull stories. Some funny and some tragic. Mine could have been tragic but wasn't.
When I was in High School and Dad was working afternoons/2nd shift in a factory, I milked and did other chores. To feed one batch of sows I would walk across the barn yard where the bull was kept. I had been carrying two five gallon pails of slop every evening for over a year. One evening the Bull put his head down and started pawing the ground. I didn't pay a lot of attention but heard him coming toward me. I turned and side steped him and swung one of the full pails and caught him in the head. He walked off and I thought it was over. The next night I kept my eye on him and he didn't even pay any attention to me. On the way back with the empty pails he charged me and I totaled one of the five gallon pails on his head on his several passes. I told Dad the next morning and he said he had to be just playing because he wouldn't hurt a flee. When I got home from school that afternoon the bull was gone. The bent up five gallon pail laid out in the barn yard for years.
Dad never said why he changed his mind but I would guess the bull mad a pass at him.
Good advise to get the bull to market soon after they decide they want to be boss or they become boss.
 
Not so. This is not a dairy bull, especially a Jersey. Apples and oranges. As said, I have had the Brangus breed in my lot for 30 years and NEVER had a bad one.
 
Did I say he was hand fed? I don't think so. The title of the thread was boy's toys, not how to manage my bull.
 
Thanks Dave. I think I will do that. Dig a 3' by 12" hole (I have the
auger and the digger) and set a piece of 2 7/8" Sch. 80 drill pipe in
it secured in concrete. Then get me one of those balls, I have seen
them, with a tether on it. That may be just what he needs. I'm
serious. I am going to move the heifers to the birthing lot in a few
weeks and he is not invited. It would be nice for him to have
something to do.

Mark
 
My bull and I get along fine. I pack a 30" piece of sledgehammer handle, and he knows that he'll get a good crack if he gets within reach of me. A mutual understanding, you might say. Your bull - I'd get rid of him if he was mauling my gates. You've gotten almost unanimous advice from your original post, but it doesn't look like you're going to follow it. At least be prepared to defend yourself. He can be on you in an instant. Good luck - be safe. Warn your family and friends.

I remember the old folks saying Never make a pet out of a bull, and Never fall in love with your livestock. I fail on the second part. You've done both :~) No offense intended.
 
These ladies are calving in less than a month. I have been in the lot when my bull (at the times) was mating. This is not the case.

Thanks,
Mark
 
A few pics. Thanks for all your inputs. I know that we all have our unique experiences. I was just looking for some idea as to what kind of boy toys I could get to entertain him. As said, I think I will go with the Sch. 80 2 7/8" drill pipe embedded in a 3' by 12" dia hole and tether a beach ball to it. That way he can play with the ball or attempt to push the pole over.....unlike the 4' cubed sheet metal salt block covers I made, or the temporary pen that I had erected in soft soil.

I am not adept at putting pics on my thread/replies. Sorry for the triple sheet metal salt block covers.

Might note that the drought in N. Texas is a thing of the past.

Thanks again for your replies.

Mark
a68392.jpg

a68394.jpg

a68395.jpg

a68397.jpg

a68402.jpg

a68403.jpg

a68404.jpg
 
i will go with PJH but i would like to add one thing when that animal finally nails you can you have a live cam set up and have your wife post it here on the forum {G} al
 
When they figure out that they can push things around thats all they want to do. I don't know of any way to break'm of it other than a trip to the sale barn. Life's too short to be spent fix'n stuff a crazy critter tore up.

Dave
 
Did you leave an old tire or beach ball in there? This ball on a pipe you mentioned below- is that like a boxing bag? Hanging like a powder rub? He'd love that. Or, just tell us what kind of gun you are going to use to kill him...
 
Mark ,
Ive haven't had livestock since i was 18 which was 43 years ago we had a 1300 lb herdford bull that was my mom's pet and they got along great , but a fella step up with a lead or a rope you had all hell breaking loose .when my dad decided
to send him to the livestock sale we told the trucker no ropes but he thought better of the warning and got up in the truck with a rope . they carried him out and he spent weeks in the hospital. unfortunatly he immediately become a "killer bull" and sold for $.20/lb.So Mark take some unwanted advice , either have one big barbecue and invite lots of friends , or get a good appetite for hamburg and steaks.you won't regret it for long. Glenn
 
I had an expensive holstien bull for about year and half. One nite ex and I were walking side by side bringing up the milk cows as we did every day, heard bull snort turned and he's coming at us. Ex under 6 barb ,me over. Got double 12 and 2 times close in the a##. Next morn used shotgun to load him. Went over gates at sale barn, got .25 for him. Never so happy to lose money!!!
 
If all your cows are safe bred maybe you can rent him out, $200.00 month plus the cost of a trich test is the going rate in my area. In general, cattle don"t tear things up unless they are stirred up or bored, if you ever wonder why cows get out when they have plenty of grass its because they don"t have to work hard enough to get a full belly and have to much time to think of other things to do. He"s plenty fat and needs to be doing what he was born to do.
 
Well, if you've had bulls for 30 years, there's nothing we can tell you that you're going to listen to anyway. To my knowlege, there is no bull toys that you can use for him. I'm not trying to be mean or belittle you. But you'd better listen to what these fine people are trying to tell you. You say he's your wife's pet, can you even begin to entertain the thought of having her gored by him. If so, just keep him and good luck to you and yours. Just my thoughts, Keith
 
Bulls dont need horns to kill you.They can get you against a wall and crush you.A bull I had tried to get a cat that walked in front of him by dropping on the cat.I sold that bull when the cows were bred.A farmer I knew carried a stick when he was in the pasture with his bull.Bull left him alone.He didnt have the stick one day,the bull beat him up bad.I had a hereford cow that would attack children.Never acted bad around me.Sold her for slaughter.
 
When you said that he pawed the ground, that is warning enough for me.
When you have a lot full of open cows in heat, that is warning enough for me.
When he thinks he's boss and doesn't respond to a whack across the nose with a piece of 1/2" sch 40 PVC, that is warning enough for me.
When he snorts in your direction, that is warning enough for me. When he charges your vehicle, that is warning enough for me.
When he is 3 pastures (other peoples) over, that is warning enough for me.

Did I miss anything?

I guess I will have to just and wait for this guy to warn me, and have a bunch of babies in the process.

With all the stuff I have heard on here, I am surprised anyone raises anything but Chickens, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, or Hamsters, or anything for that matter.

All I asked for was some ideas on "Boy's Toys" and I got all this stuff. Geez.

Mark
 
(quoted from post at 04:57:25 04/21/12) All I asked for was some ideas on "Boy's Toys" and I got all this stuff. Geez.

Mark
Click to expand...

Maybe get him a blow up cow so he's not alone?????? Could be that he flips a little when you take his herd away... May wanna think about an ox or a pony to keep him company.....
 
(quoted from post at 07:57:25 04/21/12)
All I asked for was some ideas on "Boy's Toys" and I got all this stuff. Geez.Mark
Click to expand...

Mark
The replies that you needed to sell the bull appear to be answering your topic title of OT Need Some Ideas on a Pesky Bull.

I stated I'd advise selling him and I've raised cattle for over 50 yrs but no chickens or ducks. A non-destructive eats no more and produces calves just as well a destructive bull.
 
I have a one and done standard with bulls. He gets one chance at being a fool, getting out, being destructive. The second offense, he leaves, period.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
You have a new JD convert. I'm gonna need some on-going advice
2 3
Replies
41
Views
2K
Poppy Johnny
Poppy Johnny
olgentdc
B-i-L Joel passed away His Eulogy 10-22--56/// 11-8--
Replies
9
Views
996
olgentdc
olgentdc
A
Need advice 2N purchase
2
Replies
27
Views
3K
Caryc
C
6
Hello and Bad News
Replies
14
Views
5K
62MF35Utility
6
Ultradog MN
My time as a waiter trainee
Replies
14
Views
1K
greenmech
greenmech
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top