Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-10-21
Training Steers.

A correspondent of the Maine Farmer
has the following on training steers
4 neighbor recently remarked to me
Yon have faculty of charming steers"
| replied that it was a mistake. | simply
study their nature and adapt myself to
that nature. In approaching them whether
they are in yoke or not, though l may
come with a rod" yet | always come
with love. If am in hurry and a steer
is in my path, never give him kick, or
a thrust, with YELL Get out of my way"
but instead allow him the path, while
pass quietly by, gently rubbing him with
the hand as pass. The pressure of the
hand on the animal has powerful intlu-
ence in training him, and l had rather
engage to bring two yoke of steers to a
stage Of good working discipline than
tame one pair that had been tau ght to fear
the presence of man. | think of several
illustrations, one that others may go and
do likewise" Yesterday | was carting
with pair of steers that were impatient
about starting. Whenever they started
too soon would back them to the very
spot from which they started, and rub
their heads, or pick off loose hair from
their bodies, and in one half hour the
change in their general appearance was
surprising. In handling them | always
endeavor to persuade them that even the
goad cannot harm them. When | yoke
them, which do at all ages after the
first ten months Though | consider
from one and one-half to two and one-halt
years the best age for their discipline), |
usually place them before yoke of we'll
trained oxen or steers, large enough to an
Choir you safely. AT first attach line to
the horns of the off steer, making it fast
to the bow of the near one, thereby pre-
venting him from turning his head too far
to the right. This is not usually necessary
after once yoking. ! also hold another
line IN my hand attached to the horns OF
the near one, or, if he is too hard 10 man.
are, | put a snap in his nose. OF course
they are frightened at first but after few
minutes they will walk OF quietly. |
travel beside my rear cattle, using appro-
pirate language, speaking just what |
mean and no more, at the same time show
ing, by means of goad and line, the mean
ing of my words. In ordinary cases
can remove my line from the near one
after one hour, calling TO them without il.
After handling them ON the lead one day,
| can use them on n drag or light log
and next the cart. As always approach
them quietly, they have no inclination TO
retreat from my presence, though they
may sometimes try TO run, rs II is natural
for all growing animals to do SO. The
Golden Rule" does not come amiss, even
in training steers, and will treat them as
| think | would desire to be treated were |
in their condition.
As soon as they can I've termed handy |
rive the near one an occasional lesson in
the ward without the yoke, teaching him
the elementary tactics IN single file |
then change their places under. the yoke,
putting the OFT one on the near side, and
after he becomes handy there | teach him
the tactics singly also; after which, as
both are disciplined to work on either
side, lean place them together without
any yoke or other attachment and move
them to and from the pasture and where