How To Train a Calf to be a Family Milk Cow | Beautiful Guernsey Heifer

Is your calf on the wild side? Do you want to raise a calf to be a milk cow for your family? We're training our Guernsey heifer calf to learn to be a milk cow! You'll get to see Cecily's story from the beginning.

[@1965gracebug]

Thank you! Today we’re picking up our first ever cow. She is a miniature Jersey and due September 12th. We were born and raised in the city but I have a heart for milk cows. Your video will be on repeat for me.

[@morethanfarmers]

That is awesome! So excited for you!

[@tomjohnson7606]

Nicely done! Brings back memories. I would have loved to have owned that calf! Your stock is definitely much higher quality than any I had. Video quality is good as well.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@brianjohnson1346]

HMMMMM!!! old guy here.... I'd like to add to your info!!! When training Anything to lead, cows included... It's !00% about the pressure you put on the rope and WHEN you release it !! You will succeed very quickly IF... When they pull, the pressure is maintained steady and they get NO "reward" (or release of pressure).... BUT !!!! if the animal steps towards the pressure it is VERY IMPORTANT that the pressure is instantly released! (as a reward) Watch their feet VERY closely! The instant you see the intent to step forward slack the rope!! and afirm with your "low calm gentle voice" gooood girl... after a short wait... "come cow" and gently increasing pressure, watching the feet VERY CLOSELY for an instant release when she gives to the pressure. WHY would she lead if it makes no difference to the pressure??? In time if you gently waggle the rope "come cow" and walk... you wont need to pull at all.. IF she pulls maintain steady firm pressure and use your "angry voice" AAAHHHH!! until she stops.. then ease pressure a bit not completely and change voices "come cow" lessons should be short and not more than 15 mins and definitely end on a positive win... good girl off you go!! pat pat! Your welcome!

[@MBHeritageFarms]

Two Family Homestead sent us over, new followers here with a big thumbs up ;)

[@morethanfarmers]

Hey thanks!

[@katariinakuusk3501]

❤❤❤

[@johnfarmer1691]

good

[@Sheenasalesthriftytreasures]

Love watching have a great day

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you, you too!

[@Sheenasalesthriftytreasures]

@@morethanfarmers welcome

[@mooandcarl7057]

Do you have any tips for taming a 6 month old Brahma heifer

[@kulickfamilyfarm4333]

Great video. 😂 sorry for the silly newbie question, but any tips on how to catch the feisty heifer to get the halter on prior to starting our training sessions?

[@morethanfarmers]

Not a silly question! That’s one of the hardest things that goes along with having a calf out with her mama. I found that pretty much the only way is to have a corral I can chase her into, or lead the cow into and have the calf follow, and then basically get her into a corner and grab her. It’ll get easier over time as she gets used to it, but not even all mature cows grow out of that 😏

[@pooleyclan1]

Try putting a halter into a bucket of feed - my son thought of that - worked incredibly!

[@blueraven1156]

Great video, thanks for making. Quick question, what type of halter is it that you use? Is it made for cattle or ponies/goats or similar. many thanks

[@morethanfarmers]

You're welcome! It is actually a halter for calves. I believe I got it from Rural King.. Possibly Tractor Supply.

[@jean7284]

Good job;)

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you!

[@evolvetoroots5280]

Hey great video! Was curious how you guys weaned that calf once you stopped calf sharing?

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you! Good question.. I wean at about 3-4 months old. Since she's already being separated at night I just start separating her for longer.. Over about a 2 week period I gradually start separating her earlier in the day and/or letting her out later in the morning. Whichever direction works best for your schedule would work. I like to have the calf strip all the milk out when I'm done milking, so my favorite is to separate her earlier and earlier in the day. I have a day job though, so somebody's for sure gotta be home to do it.. namely my wife 😏 I shoot for about an hour less a day. That could also be accomplished by going 2 hours every other day. Then for the last few days, once she's down to where they would be together for just a few hours, you could just let her clean up the cow after milking then separate her right away.

[@evolvetoroots5280]

@@morethanfarmers awesome, thanks for the detailed plan. Would love to see that video too one day. Not much info out there on weaning at a family cow level.

[@morethanfarmers]

@@evolvetoroots5280 Yeah, I hope to do that with our calf this year! It’d be about late summer when I’ll be weaning our next calf.

[@NanasMenagerie]

Interesting videos, nicely done, we’re in Ohio also

[@morethanfarmers]

That’s cool! Thank you.

[@stephainewoodw403]

Great video! Questions- I have a calf, first I've ever raised, she was born about the same time as the one in the video, got her at 4 days old, bottle raised. I never led her around much. Now I see this was a huge mistake. She is not mean , but just acts like a gigantic puppy and has hurt me , she also has horns. She acts like the calf at the beginning of the video only she's much bigger now. Please tell me- is it too late to turn this behavior around safely? We really want to be able to milk her, and lead her where we need her to go easily. And tips for teaching older calf like around a year old manners and such? Thank you!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks! 😊 It's not too late.. I would start by giving her some sweet feed every day. If she won't take it out of your hand then pour it in something and work on getting to the place where she'll let you pet her while she eats, then eating out of your hand. Just keep going from there. Work on having her tied and touching her all over. Once she's calm while being tied, try leading her around. And you could also get her dehorned... If it was a problem I would probably do that. Also, make sure she knows who's boss. Cows are herd animals and the herd has a boss cow.. Be the boss cow. Did you see one of my latest videos about the wild heifer I got? I'm gonna take on the challenge of taming that one 😀 Good luck!

[@missyandromeda]

I want her!

[@morethanfarmers]

Yeah I wish we coulda kept her! Only have room for so many animals around here 😏 We sold her to a super nice family though that I know will take good care of her 😊

[@danvincent1195]

Where are you located? I'd love to buy her! Sire?

[@morethanfarmers]

She’s done sold! She came out of Dairyman Toby Pharmer-ET.

[@robbinedick9930]

Which type of halter? I have a Brown Swiss. 2 yo. She's skittish but was taught to halter..some. it's a rodeo trying to put any halter on her. So, I want to leave one on her until this is routine for her. I want to be able to grab her halter and go. What halter would you recommend. Yes, safety issues. I see Maddie? Has one with the chain. Thank you.

[@morethanfarmers]

I leave my cow's on all the time. The chain is a must for me. It gives much better control for an ornery cow. I really like this halter! amzn.to/3Oy9h1V

[@goodandplentyhomestead9482]

I don’t know if you will see this because it’s been a couple years but thank you so much for your calf training videos. I cannot find a halter for a one week old calf- help?