Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-07-29
Bad Habits of Cattle.

1t is sometimes the case that cows, from
some cause or other, acquire habit OF kick
ing. Some would seem to be natural kickers,
from their propensity to do so from their
first coming in. If such be the fact, and
they persist in it, the better way is, if they
are not extraordinary good ones, to turn
them off for fattening into beef. But if
valuable for the dairy, they can be easily
managed. Our own process has been to take
the iron forcepS, used for holding cattle by
tue nootriis, and tying them by rope or
strap to bcam overhead, and drawing up
their noses at an elevation, and then securing
them, while they are MIXED. If that is not
effective, a leather strap, with loop, just
back of the buckle end, through which to
put the other end, is the best instrument for
the purpose. Put this around one leg, Just
above the hook joint, run the smaller end
through the loop, that it may not slip down
then put 1T around the other leg and pass it
through the buckle SO as to contine her legs
close together. So secured, she cannot well
kick, as the other strap holds them fast one
to the other, and the COW is easily MIXED.
Or, lacking strap, rope passed around
one leg and crossed, then dashed around the
other, and brought back with turn or two
around the cross between the legs, and tied
will answer the purpose. She soon becomes
accustomed to it., and will readily submit to
cows tor years, with little trouble, preferring
so to do rather thau lose their services
Scolding fretting, loud threatening and
Negotiations, are of little use The COW MAJ
have hot temper, as well her mixer, and
resist all sorts of discipline. The law OF
kindness is usually much more effective.
A kicking is troublesome, either in the
stable or when at work. Yet we have known
some of the best workers which had acquired
most inveterate habit of the kind, and
freely exercised it on even the slightest oc-
caslons. In nineteen cases out of twenty the
habit was acquired by improper treatment OF
him by his keeper. When steers are kindly
treated at breaking. and in their subsequent
work, there is little danger of their con-
tracing such vice at all. Kind and gentle
treatment and steady driver, is the best
remedy. The owner must exercise his own
judgment whether to retain or discard him.
Breachiness is acquired in most cases
through the carelessness or negligence.of the
person owning them. We have known some
cattle that seemed to have almost a natural
propensity that way, but in seldom instances
We have seen calves that would Jump with
almost the celebrity of deer, but in most
cases, low and insecure fences lead them to
1t. As they grew up, they learned t. throw
fences with their horns, but such enclosures
were generally poor and insufficient. We
have known others that would ingeniously
UNLOCK gate, or open door, even when
properly latchd. The only secure remedy
for such disturbances is fattenipg and slaugh-
ter. 1t is the best use they can be put to :,
unless of great value for breeding or labor,
and if so retained. secure confinement is the
best remedy. We dislike to see creature
going bout in the pasture with a board hung
over his face, or with a poke on, or hobbled.
Ihey are thus ant TO be set uDOn by other
animals as they are taken unawares without
the means of defense or escape, and are thus
frequently injured: Besides, their example
is bad. - Evil communications corrupt good
morals " among cattle as among men. Better
to have them cut of the way at once, as their
example may be contagious
Cows sucking themselves is another bad
trick. We dislike TO see a cow going about
the pastures with a framework about her neck
Better serve her the same the breechy one
and rid the herd of her presence. We never
had creature of the kind, aud if we had,
would not take the pains to make the com
plicated machinery necessary for its protec-
ton, unless she were of very choice blood
whose preservation was worth any amount of
pains to keep under proper control.
Animals may be prevented from much mis-
chief by putting balls of either wood pew
ter or brass 1.-THE latter are the best) on the
ends Of their horns. They may be either
riyeted on or screwed firmly. The manner of
doing it is too simple to need direction
There may be other tricks and vices of
trivial nature to which the cattle may become
addicted, but from long experience and OBJ
servatiOn in that line. we believe that under
proper treatment these tricks and vices will
be few; at least we have been seldom
troubled with m.-AHen's Am. Cattle.