Longhorn Handling and Management

These "Pointers" especially apply to Longhorn Cattle; however, most are also appropriate for other breeds:

• When adding new Longhorns to your pasture, they will "walk the fenceline" in search of any "weak spots".
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• To ease their transition into an existing herd, "quarantine" new arrivals in secure pen next to existing cattle.
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• Work your cattle slowly, you save time in the long run.
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• Avoid shouting, hollering, or making rapid movements when working them.
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• Longhorns are intelligent and easy to train with voice and body-language instructions.
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• With proper training you DON'T need dogs or a Horse to move or sort a Longhorn.
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• Know the "flight zone" of your animals and use it to your advantage.
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• Move cattle forward by positioning yourself at 45 degree angle to their hip at edge of their Flight Zone.
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• Stop or move cattle back by positioning youself in front of them.
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• Use a 5-6" fiberglas sorting stick to point with as extension of your hand & arm.
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• Position your sorting stick horizontally while standing in front of them to train them to "stop".
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• Communicate with them using their Name everytime you work one.
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• Never use a "Hot Shock" device:  you don't need it to work them.
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• Work your Longhorns around their usual habits and time of day movements.
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• If you "bait" them with water or "cubes", always deliver the reward without fail.
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• When using a sorting stick, usually a mild "poke" or "tap" will be sufficient.
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• Identify your dominant or "leader" and use her/him to your advantage.
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• Longhorns (and other livestock) are social animals:  Don't pen up one without a "buddy" or out-of- sight of the others.
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• If you have a "wild" animal, let it "Grow Wheels"; otherwise, it will "train" the others.
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• Get rid of any fence jumpers or fence crashers:  they will "train" the others.
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• Get the "lead" or dominant animal to go first:  the rest will follow.
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• Keep your own movements slow:  move cattle at "their" pace...avoid wrecks.
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• Periodically move your cattle from one area to another:  always with a "reward" such as new hay bale.
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• Periodically let your cattle into the corral or working area:  WITHOUT doing anything to them.
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• Frequently walk, wander amongst them:  get them used to you.
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• Communicate YOUR "flight zone" :  don't let cattle get any closer to you than you want to risk.
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• Frequently visit a cow and her new calf (across the fence) to let her know you won't hurt her calf.
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• Be ALERT to the body language of the cattle:  know when to back off...
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• NEVER get between a Bull and a Cow or Heifer in heat.
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• NEVER get between a Cow or Heifer and her calf...unless you KNOW their response.
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• NEVER put two breeding age bulls in same pasture, especially with female in pasture also.
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• Always have an alleyway or vacant pasture between two breeding age bulls.
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• NEVER turn your back on a BULL (or) "aggressive" cow.
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• Cattle can kick BACK, FORWARD, and to the SIDE:  Position yourself accordingly.
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• CALVES can HURT you also.

These are just a few of the tips for "safe" and "effective" handing of Longhorns (and other livestock).