Joined: Jun 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 35 Location: Spicewood TX
Boss Cow « Thread Started on Oct 25, 2009, 7:09am »
We have had our Dexters for about a week now and I am completely in love! Now that they are at home, have figured out there is no going back, and that I = good stuff to eat + good scratches and rubs, they are showing there true personalities. Kooper is a 'good ol' boy. He just loves everyone, but doesn't want to be messed with to much. He's exactly what I would want/expect from a bull. Lana, though, has shown her true colors. She is the tamest, will let me do anything to her. But she is also the BOSS, Alpha cow. Together her and Kooper push Callie, who is much smaller, away from the food, away from the water, away from me. They won't let her 'participate' in the herd. Callie is always hanging behind, and just looks kinda sad about it =( Any suggestions as to how I can help this? They push her around alot with their horns, not hurting her, but keeping her in her place. Lana and Koop are going to the vet to have their horns removed in a few weeks, after Lana calves. Hopefully that should help some. Any help is appreciated!
Joined: Sept 2007 Posts: 662 Location: Church Road, VA
Re: Boss Cow « Reply #1 on Oct 25, 2009, 9:49am »
A strong pecking order is normal in a Dexter herd. It keeps things going the way they should go. You shouldn't do too much to try to change it.
It's good that you've noticed the pecking order. Now learn to work with it. It can work to your benefit, too.
In most herds, the bull is the king. He gets first honors at the feed. His place at the feed bunker is respected. He doesn't rule the herd, though. That's the job of the herd cow. That's Lana. Watch and you'll probably see that Lana is the one that leads them to new grass or that decides when to move into the shade and everything else. You'll seldom see Callie at the front of the line when they're moving.
Try holding back a little feed for Callie. While the others are busy eating, tempt her to you for her special treats. I hold back a bucket with a little bit in the bottom. My shyest one gets it while I rub and scratch her.
As soon as one of the others finishes, they will take Callie's bucket away. That's OK. It's the proper order of things.
One of these days, Callie will come into heat. She'll be instantly promoted to the head of the class. Lana might not like it, but she will accept it. It's all normal behavior. When Callie goes out of heat, she'll find her proper place in the order again.
When Lana gets so heavy with calf that she can't throw her weight around, she may lose her place in the order. Whether she gets it back after the calf is born will be interesting to watch.
Enjoy your herd in their natural splendor. They are a joy to watch, how they govern themselves and how they interact with us.
You also have a proper position in the herd. You are to be the master, the provider. Try to always behave like the Alpha animal. Stand up tall and be firm in your actions. Don't get into situations where you might not be the boss (that means stay out of the way when a bull and cow are courting).
I like to carry an 'authority stick' when I get new cattle. It's a fiberglas stick with rubber tip. The cattle hate being poked with it and quickly learn to give you your space, along with some respect. After a while I quit carrying it. I found out that a squirt bottle of fly repellent works just about as well.
Dexters are really nice to work with. They're smart, they're gentle and they're small enough that they don't intimidate me like a big old Angus can. They have very interesting personalities. Take the time to get to know them.
Re: Boss Cow « Reply #2 on Oct 25, 2009, 11:11am »
This is very typical. When I feed, the cow(s) on the lowest rung of the pecking order always seek me out as they know they will get a treat! It makes them some of my tamest.
Thats the way mine are, I put cubes in the trough and the lower placed cows come find me because I keep some back for them. When I don't have time to play, I use two troughs and the more timid ones eat at the second one. workd good...
Joined: Sept 2007 Posts: 662 Location: Church Road, VA
Re: Boss Cow « Reply #4 on Oct 25, 2009, 4:11pm »
Copperhead,
I only have eight Dexters and I'm up to two troughs and three buckets, so the shy ones get something. I take special care of Ms. Fermoy, who is 19 yearls old, Boo, that's visiting, and Edan, who is only 4 months old. They're the bottom of my order. And they sure learn quickly to expect it. They each go to their spot to wait for me.
Joined: Jun 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 35 Location: Spicewood TX
Re: Boss Cow « Reply #7 on Oct 26, 2009, 8:09pm »
Hi ya'll, Just wanted ot give you an update. I follow your advice about feeding callie from a bucket while the other two were busy eating their food. At first she was stand offish and not real sure what was going on, but after she relized that their was good food in there and it was hers, she dug right in. She let me rub all over her shoulders, neck and head, and didn't even flinch. When she finished off the food, she followed me back to the gate and let me scratch her head some more. Tonight she was the first one up for her hay. =) Thanks for the tips! It seems to be exactly what she needed!
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