Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-01-27
Management Of Stocl1--Tricks and
Vices,

In the beginning of the world
God made man as the ruler of all
things, both above the earth and be-
low the earth, and of every living
thing upon the earth-to which end
he endowed man with wisdom and
intelligence superior to all other
species of the animal kingdom.
Many of our domestic animals show
q degree ofintelligence almost equal
to man in every respect, while their
sagacity is often surprisingly appar-
ant. Yet too little is known relative
to these animals which hold so high
place in the orders of the animal
kingdom. Use similar means to
make your cattle, &C., understand
You, to those you would employ to-
ward a person who does not nnder-
stand your language. Speak pie s.
antly to them atall times; observing
always that you use the same words,
in all similar situations. Accustom
all your cattle, poultry, de-, to come
to you, by peculiar whistle, for
each particular kind. You will
soon see the advantage that this is
to you, in SAVING of both time and
labor. II your cattle are going
astray, a whistle brings them back;
if astray, whistle, and, if within
hearing, they will soon find you.
Most of the bad habits of stock are
caused by inattcntion and neglect,
especially is this the ease with
breachy cattle. This is acquired
in most eases through the care
lessncss or negligence of the person
owning them. We have known
some cattle that seem to have q nat
ural propensity in that way, but in
seldom instances. Poor fencing
makes stock breachy, by not mailing
on board, when by accident one is
knocked off; by not setting new
post when you find one has rotted off,
and is held to its place by the
boards. In fact, by general negli
gence; by not feeding your stock
we'll, as well as by poor fencing.
1t hunger causes your stock to cross
your fence in what you call a ''poor
spot" in the fencing, for the same
reasons they will cross much bet
ter place the next time they are hun
CRY, if the former place should be
fixed up. We have seen even calves
jump with almost the celebrity of Il
deer, but in most cases, low, and in
secure fences led them to it. AS
they grew up, they learned to throw
fences with their horns, but such
enclosures were generally poor and
insufficient. We have known others
that would ingeniously unlock a
gate, or open a door, even when
properly latched, or otherwise last
ened; but such. have been rare
The only sure remedy for such dis
turbances is fattcning and slaught-
er. 1t is the best use they can be
put to, unless of great value for
breeding or labor, and so retained,
secure confinement is the best rem
edy. We dislike to see creature
going about the pasture with a
boarG hung over its face, or with a
poke on, or hobbled. They are thus
apt to be set upon by other animals,
as they are taken unawares, without
the means of defense or escape, and
thus frequently injured. Besides,
their example is bad. evil com
munications corrupt good manners .
among cattle as among men. Bet
ter to have them out OF the way at
once, as their example may be con
tagious.
Cows sucking themselves is an
other bad trick. We dislike seeing
COW going about the pasture with
a framework about her neck. Bet
ter serve her the same as the
breachy one, and rid the herd of her
presence. We never had creature
of the kind, and if we had, would
not take the pains to make the com
plicated machinery necessary for its
protection, unless she were Of very
choice blood, whose preservation
was worth any amount of pains to
keep her under control. 1t is some
times the case that cows, from one
cause or other, acquire habit of
kicking. Some would seem to be
natural kickcrs, from their propen-
sity to do so from their first com
ing in. If such is 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 .torceps used for holding
cattle by the nostrils, and tying them
with rope or strap to beam over
head, and drawing up their noses at
an elevation, and there securing
them, while they are MIXED. Ii
that is not effective, a leather strap,
with q loop just back of the buckle
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 it
around the other leg, and pass it
back through the buckle so as to
confine 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 "A strap, a rope
passed around one leg and crossed,
then lashel 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 the oper
alton. We have so used valuable
cows .or years, with little trouble,
prcfering so to do rather than lose
their services. Seeding, fretting,
loud threatening, humping, and
fiagcllations are of but little use.
The cow may have hot temper, as
well as her mixer, and resist all
such sorts Of disci p!ine. The law
of kindness is usually much more
offnntiyn