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Post by jneail on May 20, 2011 10:32:00 GMT -5
Hey all- wanted some opinions before I try this. Do you find it easier to pull 20-40 hairs at a time (like Genebo in "I want to gripe about PHA") or the 5-10 at a time in some of the instructions pages for genotyping?
I have 2 that are shy enough that I don't know if 5-10 at a time will work so well for me, based on the number of pulls I have to do to get enough hairs. It might take me a while to collect enough to send! If it's not any more painful, I'd rather only have to pull once for each cow.
But if pulling a whole bunch at once will be significantly more painful for them, I'd rather not go that route and have them trust me less than they do now, or make enemies of my milk cow.
What's your experience?
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Post by marion on May 20, 2011 11:46:59 GMT -5
The trick is to have your cows pre-tamed ;D You are probably going to have to do at least two pulls. Well socialized cows will give you the fuzzy stink-eye but keep on eating (most will put up with anything for a bit of grain). Some don't even seem to notice!
It helps to have a little chute set up for handling if they are really shy..marion
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Post by rdoubled on May 20, 2011 17:25:35 GMT -5
I have found that some hate having tail hairs pulled other could careless about it. My norm is about 10-20 in the first pull just to see what they are going to do. If they do not care then I pull that many a few more times. If they care they I pull a larger sampling the 2nd time because a 3 pull really pisses them off.
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Post by ctownson on May 20, 2011 19:26:24 GMT -5
I don't think it is really painful at all to them; it is a matter of how tame they are and how much they will let you handle them without question. I put a halter on ours and either tie them to a fence post or put them in the headgate and pull the hairs. It is an easy process that takes less than a minute. I don't know if I could walk up in the pasture and pull tail hairs on most of ours - maybe the two or three that are the most tame would let me do this without moving away.
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Post by copperhead on May 20, 2011 22:19:15 GMT -5
I usually pull 10 or 15 at a time, it's easier for me. A big wad is hard to pull and I'd rather make it easier on both of us. I have a squeeze chute and head gate so it's not a problem to get the hairs pulled, and I don't worry about getting kicked, either.
P.J.
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Post by legendrockranch on May 20, 2011 22:53:47 GMT -5
We go out with a set of pliers. We generally pull tail hairs when we work the animals and their in the squeze chute.
I'm not sure how many hairs we get, but it's enough to test for everything plus still have some leftover for whatever testing that might be needed in the future.
Barb
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Post by Star Creek Dexters on May 21, 2011 7:22:36 GMT -5
Wow, this thread makes me realize how tame our cows are! I can walk right up to ours and pull hairs, 2-3 times, and they won't even look back at me. We pull 15-20 hairs at a time. Never had a problem here.
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Post by kortman on May 21, 2011 22:49:45 GMT -5
I must do 21 cattle next week. Haven't done it before. Where on the tail do you pull. On the side or write at the back.
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Post by legendrockranch on May 21, 2011 23:46:44 GMT -5
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Post by copperhead on May 22, 2011 11:52:30 GMT -5
I usually pull from several areas on the tail, then wtrap the top of the hairs in scotch tape and put into a plastic bag, and mark with the animals info.
I never have any luck using pliers, so I have to wrap the hairs around my finger and then give a quick jerk. Iusually take 10 or so at a time, it's eay to pull that many and doesn't seem to bother the animal.
P.J.
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Post by kortman on May 22, 2011 17:43:06 GMT -5
Barb Thank you so much. Greetings |
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