What signs to look for in identifying mean bulls.

What signs to look for in identifying mean bulls. When approaching bulls, you need to watch their body language. If they are tossing their heads, staring at you, pawing the ground and blowing their nose, these actions are aggressive. If you walk toward them and they come toward you, get out of there quickly. A bull should move back from you when you walk toward them. If you want to keep your farm profitable every year, check out my 3 grazing books that I wrote on our website: greenpasturesfarm.net/books/

[@BigGanderRanch]

5:31 a friend walks by and asks why you’re watching a video of a guy touching cow poop. You answer “because the future of agriculture depends on it”. Thank you Greg!

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Your right, you’re welcome!

[@deanadwood]

Temperament is my #1 priority in purchasing and keeping a bull. My family spends too much time in the pasture to worry about a mean bull.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Absolutely correct

[@wblanton87]

Any bull I've ever been hit by has always been the bull you least expect. Yes temperament is a part but never trust a bull or cow for that fact always know your surroundings

[@stevenfrench7940]

My grandpa always said the mean ones get a one way trip to McDonald’s.

[@shawnh8754]

We leased a South Poll bull last summer. We unloaded him and an hour later I went to let my milk cow in. He was right behind her. I shooed him back and he stopped. When I let her back out she stood for him. I had NO idea she was in heat. The fact I could wave him off, and he respected that, made me a believer of the South Poll temperament. I never would have brought a bull on my property except I watched the video of you walking through the herd while your bulls were chasing a cow around within 15 feet of you. That sold me. I'm hooked on South Poll.

[@richardwaechter5426]

Very important message, Greg. Safety with bulls is extremely important.

[@sebastianbroich8458]

Temple Grandin points out that bulls which were raised by hand are very dangerous, because they first see you as a buddy and then as a rival. I think that‘s the reason why more bull accidents happen in dairy herds. Dairy calfs are usually raised by hand.

[@markpiersall9815]

There needs to be a nursery with beef cows for these dairy calves. They need a few months of milk.

[@sebastianbroich8458]

@@markpiersall9815 Well usually they get milk replacer consisting of milkpowder and palmoil

[@markpiersall9815]

@@sebastianbroich8458 ground flour and water like a bastard. There are a number of things in mother's milk which makes it special. Go to a five year olds birthday party and see if you can tell which children were put on formula at birth and those who were nursed 36 months.

[@robinwhitlatch4497]

Hi Greg… I totally agree with you about animal temperament & behavior no matter the species. My mantra is there are to many good animals out there to keep a bad attitude in the herd and risk other animals and humans well-being. You are correct, 1 nasty bad disposition bull will give you 75% + bad tempered / disposition calves & it’s not worth it no matter how nice the bulls confirmation & physical attributes he passes to offspring. I ran, ran up gates & panels, dove over fences, speed climbed a few trees getting away from onrey / mean cows & bulls, mares & stallions as a kid and have refused to have animals like that as an adult. As a result I am still alive & have had 1 major injury 31 years ago when I was still training outside client difficult & problem horses.

[@leesvision]

I agree.

[@KPVFarmer]

Great advice! Thank you, good to find fellow ranchers with similar views, temperament can be a hereditary trait too. Can’t have mean genetics, just problems or a catastrophe waiting to happen.

[@georgeheller2281]

How about a bull calf that likes to come up and get his head scratched, and start licking on you? I have one of them, I try to stay at his side, and not in front of his head. He is a funny little guy. Have a wonderful day.

[@Dadnatron]

You have a tractor with a bucket. The next BEST thing I ever purchased for my farm was the Intimidator post puller by Danuser. Its gotten pretty expensive since Covid/$8T... but I'd still buy it again. It will pull those out as well as brush, other trees, old posts, etc. Without a doubt, IMO, its a worthwhile investment, if you already have a tractor with a bucket.

[@amyf8231]

I have the stil battery chainsaw too. They are great! Always starts, light to carry!

[@ottocarmanjones7143]

Very good advice.

[@marvinbaier3627]

Thanks for the video! We do the same thing. We get rid of anything that is mean to us. So far, it’s been turkeys, chickens, and geese. I have a turkey now who is very unpleasant, but he won’t be long. He will be supper one of these days. I just need help to take care of him. I bet he will be tasting good. I’ve been around enough mean cows and bulls not to deal with mean ones anymore. I think cows are worse especially when working with the calves because they keep their eyes open when they charge. Where as bulls they close their eyes at least that is what I’ve been told. I’ve been hit hard by a cow but not a bull. That cow had to be shot on the farm because she was that crazy when she calved. You could not get close to her at all.

[@FarmFreshIB]

I have good luck with always keeping two tom turkeys. It seems to me they spend all their time worrying about each other and far less time concerned with me. When I show up both toms run, where one tom tom would possibly think about challenging me.

[@marvinbaier3627]

@@FarmFreshIB we have 2 tom turkeys now, and the bigger one always challenges me.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

My parents raised 50 Tom turkeys up to 30-40 lbs. It was my job to feed and water them. It was like going to war going into their pen. I carried a baseball bat with me for personal protection. The bigger ones would gang up on me and try to spur or peck me. One day a big Tom came straight at me to knock me down, I caught him with a baseball home run swing right on his head. We had Tom turkey sandwiches for a week!!

[@splashdown50]

Thank you for posting this and speaking about being safe with bulls.

[@OffgridVictory]

People are always more important than any animal 🐄 no matter how valuable they are 🧐

[@sarahktm]

Wow, timely information! Just about to get our first bull this week. He seemed like a pretty mellow fellow when we went to go meet him, hope he stays that way! Ufta.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Whatever you do, don’t make a pet out of him or start rubbing his head!!!!

[@FundingAnimals]

All of your videos are informative but this one will save somebody’s life. Great information. Thanks! 👍

[@honeybee3317]

Thank you for that info. Filed it.

[@philipmailman9995]

Love that you want your animals peaceful really good advice

[@richardwaechter5426]

We use calicrate as well. I have also had a dangerous steers before.

[@doughasbrouck6091]

Thanks for the Stihl battery saw recommendation. I was thinking about getting one and you made the decision easier. After one time use I am sold. That is one handy tool.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

We love ours, so light and easy to use. The one thing that is easy to forget about is making sure to put bar oil in it😊

[@chrish1657]

"Dude, you keep that crap up, you're gonna lose your nuts." That's what I say when someone doesn't get out of my way too.

[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you! Wise!

[@rosseryn8216]

Totally agree on the cattle. Also agree on any animal that comes after you or does not yield at a young age should be got rid of before they get older. This goes for any livestock. Also the Sire and Dam should be considered for sale. I have noticed that with hogs, sheep and goats over a period of many generations. Start out good and gentle and selected over 5 to 10 generations. It is possible to select for animals that are so extremely gentle that at some point they will not care for their young. Every varmint in the pasture will pick them off also the young wander off. I have not really seen this in cattle for the most part probably due to the extended timeline. That being said, I have seen mean livestock be terrible mothers as well. So it is not always connected. However on the extreme end of naturally gentle with no effort made to acclimate them to your presence does seem to have a total lack of fear and protection instinct. There is a balance. Greg's cattle seem to be in a sweet spot, well done. Also for folks that talk about how gentle a boar or sow is and treat them like pets, that is a very very dangerous situation as they get older. After 50 yrs of cattle and hog raising I concur it is just as Greg said in a comment, don't pet the bull on the head. Also don't let the hogs get too friendly and rub their head either. That bad habit can get you killed.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Well spoken!

[@C.Hawkshaw]

Agree. We had a newfie cross dog that never bit anyone but boy his bark! If you were on our property you’d better be a friend of ours. I like a protective dog.

[@danielphillips1094]

Good looking bulls!

[@phildick6350]

Greg, your manure pat observations continue to intrigue me. You make a good point with regard to the difference in smell for grass-fed versus grain-fed manure. Have you come across any scientific measurement of the difference in the fugitive methane/nitrogen emission of grass versus grain-fed manures and urine? I realize that this may be difficult to analyze, but there are monitors that could measure emissions across a stockyard versus a paddock. Your intensive rotation should demonstrate a marked difference in emissions.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

I’m sure there is a difference, my nose doesn’t lie😊

[@C.Hawkshaw]

That would really help the climate change/meat argument. Because all the vegan arguments are based on feedlot cattle. And we know how those feedlots smell.

[@rosalieroku3818]

I'd love to hear about you and your crew's preferences in pasture boots.

[@leesvision]

That's Interesting i didn't know bulls growl.i know the language of dogs , cats chickens sheep , ect but not familar with cattle.I completely agree on Temperament , it's so important when working with any kind of livestock. I have a ram sheep I got lucky with he is pretty docile. When his oats first started coming in he tried to challenge me once, and got a swift crack over the head with my hat. He mostly like attention but was getting a little pushy. Now if I even make the gesture of taking my hat off or yell at him , he backs off or yeilds immediately,I won't tolerate head butttng at all. ive never been affraid to back to him.he has been pretty good so he is my breeding ram. I know aggressive rams can really be a problem. And with out a doubt a aggressive bull could really hurt or even kill someone also. I personally won't be breed anything with a nasty attitude.

[@DBHillstone]

Greg, what did you say to paint the brush stump with?

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

1 quart of crossbow herbicide mixed with 5 gallons of red diesel fuel.

[@petrosros]

It's the Humans you got to be careful of where I live, taking their nuts off is not an option, at least not one I've tried.

[@sheiladuncan1027]

I had a Nubian buck goat that became aggressive. I had bottle raised him. I kept an eye on him, but still thought I could manage him. Right up to the day he put me through a closed barn door. I have a scar from left hip to right shoulder blade to remind me. Now, at the first sign of aggression they're history.

[@locustvalleyfarms7241]

Hi Greg. I have an agressive ram. He is my only ram and $ is tighter so I can’t justify getting rid of him. Unlike a bull he is much more manageable. Is there a good way that you know of to just let him know that YOUR the boss?

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Absolutely not, if their aggressive they are coming after you. I saw a guy knock a ram down with a 2x4 to his forehead. The ram jumped up and came after him again like nothing had happened.

[@SvenGreenHill2174]

Aggressive rams are culls, for family & worker safety. Here are some steps to take to manage him till you can replace him. When entering his pen and while inside his pen: Carry a strong stick thats like one inch thick. If he charges you, step to the side (preferably behind an obstacle) and clip his muzzle with the stick, redirecting his momentum away from you. (Just avoid hitting his eyes) (if you smack him across the horns while he is in attack mode he will take it as a challenge, as if you are another ram bashing your horns with his horns) (If he is in flee mode, smacking him across the horns will make him feel pursued and drive home the message that you are above him) (Also grabbing him by the horns and lifting him up off his front feet while talking to him, will also send the message that you are stronger than him) Always watch your back. Never crouch in his pen. (crouching low will send the message that you are on his level) If you need to do chores inside his pen, consider bringing a second person armed with a strong stick to guard your back. You might have 3 different results. 1# a spoiled ram (a ram lamb when young, rubbed his head on people & got petted) will learn to treat people as greater than himself. 2# an aggressive ram will learn to fear/treat you as greater than himself, but will still attack other people. 3# an aggressive ram will still attack you and other people. In Short: Cull the ram when do able. Carry a strong stick. (how to use the stick) Watch your back. Never crouch. Bring a backup guard. (especially if needing to crouch) Stay safe :)🧍🛡️🌊🐏

[@locustvalleyfarms7241]

@@SvenGreenHill2174 Thanks for the info.

[@jeaniepartridge6701]

We have 2 bull calves 7 months old we are watching to see which one we want to steer no aggression so far.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

That is good.

[@QuecoJones1776]

How, when, and where do you sell your cows/bulls/steers?

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

We sell animals every month of the year.

[@QuecoJones1776]

@@gregjudyregenerativerancher are you selling at an auction barn, a slaughterhouse, or a private client or all of them? I am only halfway through your no risk ranching book and looking to start a MiG system in western Michigan.

[@Kat09tails]

I had a family friend nearly killed by her 2.5 year old bull last year. Thrown through two panel fences, broke a leg, a collarbone, and a couple ribs. Nearly brained out in the process. It wasn't the first time he was a pushy aggressive thing but it was his last. Amen to getting moving that temperament along to freezer camp young, it's just not worth your life and farm.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Absolutely get rid of those mean ones

[@carlandrews5810]

Question # 1? Is it a Jersey?

[@ronaldchurch6356]

How toxic is crossbow and diesel together? On the pasture. Might make a good video. Just a thought.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

We do not spray it. We only paint the outside edge of the freshly cut stump with a paintbrush. It kills the stump and prevents sprouts from growing back. If you don’t paint the stump, you will be back every year cutting the new sprouts off. Especially under your electric fence, once painted the stump you no longer have to worry about the tree growing back and shorting out your fence.

[@ronaldchurch6356]

@@gregjudyregenerativerancher Tks for the reply.

[@downforwhatever67]

“Took care of that problem.” I’m not going to raising much cattle but I’m going to exercise this set of recommendations and feel good doing it. I wonder about rams. Same sorta deal? I should search for a video you’ve probably made about dealing with aggressive sheep

[@robinwhitlatch4497]

Rams with aggressive bad temperament can & will seriously / critically injure people so the same rules apply. A standing butt can knock down & seriously injure an adult. A running butt will fracture multiple leg bones, pelvis, and can fracture spine & ribs. If they hit again while person is down injuries can be fatal. Same thing with cattle, horses, goats & any other medium to large sized animals. Best practice is never tolerate and keep a aggressive animal.

[@tedduke1699]

@@robinwhitlatch4497 I raise Angus cattle on a small scale, but years ago one of my sons brought a small ram home to raise. Long story, I ended up with it and when it got big, it knocked me on my butt. I told my wife it had to go. She said I was exaggerating. LOL Several days later it butted her car door and the next day butted her when she got out to open a gate. He was small, but very tasty.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Absolutely correct!

[@horsemindedwtp]

How much are you getting for them bulls, ave?

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Prices change each year. All sold out this year in 8 hours! I guess we didn’t have our price high enough.

[@vondacollins5677]

Question, only time bull comes near me or toward me is when I have food bucket

[@vondacollins5677]

Is that ok?

[@isaacfulton7731]

How do you recommend calming down skidish cows and heifers. Getting them to be ok with people being around. Instead of running

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Spend time with them in the pasture, sitting on a bucket. Moving them once to twice a day really helps. If you have some that stay crazy, sell them.

[@robinwhitlatch4497]

I use to sit on a bucket in the field & read a book out loud. Got them use to my presence and my voice. Did the same thing with horses that hadn't been handled much or off track horses that were still high octaine that I was hired to train / retrain for a second career.

[@AAa-cf1oe]

💚

[@paulmcewen1761]

How old is too old to castrate a bull calf?

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

We banded bulls at 24 months, no problems. Just make sure you give them a tetanus shot.

[@larzdiz]

Do these bulls have horns I don’t see them?

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

No these are polled animals. Polled means no horns.

[@georgehofer4369]

Grazon will gladly take care of the olive autumn

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Yes and it will kill all your clover in the pasture at the same time. Good way to go broke.

[@carolinablonde88]

Grazon is a persistent herbicide that will also kill any legumes for years. Make sure if you're using grazon or hay sprayed with it, you're not using any of the cow manure or compost made from that manure on any garden. I bought compost made from horse manure from a friend. I didn't know her hay and pasture that she was giving to the horses had been sprayed with grazon. It ruined my garden for years. Couldn't grow any legumes and it severely affected my nightshade too. Well that's half my veggies :/

[@georgehofer4369]

Just cover the leaves and not to the point of run off. Just spot spray.

[@carolinablonde88]

@George Hofer I wish that worked, but the rate of dilution that still affects plants is really low. That's part of why it's a persistent herbicide. Not only does it have a long half life, but it doesn't take much to affect plants. It took me 4 years of heavily diluting my soil with unaffected compost before I could grow anything in it

[@taunapowell9651]

My sale barn owner chuckles when I bring ‘wild’ cows to sell. If a cow raises her head with that ‘look’ and turns away quickly in the pasture, it’s almost a certainty she’ll be nervous in the corral. I don’t like nervous or aggressive. People who want to help sort or work cattle seldom understand how to watch the animal and adjust pressure point so the activity can be completed without harm or destruction. At this point, if something like that shows up, it’s a purchased animal and she’s headed straight back to the sale barn.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Very good decision Tauna!!!

[@tamaraspillis612]

11:45 "sold him and his mom"😮🤝👌

[@timlawson817]

This stuff gets people hurt . Never trust a large animal totally they will turn on you . People's children turn on them so don't trust that its OK to be around any animals with total trust .

[@wallacewimmer5191]

🎉

[@mlauntube]

Skip to 6:20 when he starts talking about the aggressive bull signs.

[@chiassoned5305]

what is that formula again to kill brush/trees cut off?

[@isaacfulton7731]

2:30

[@chiassoned5305]

@@isaacfulton7731 I know the location, I couldn't hear it, have hearing issues, thanks

[@isaacfulton7731]

@@chiassoned5305 it's 1 quart crossbow to 5 gallons diesel fuel. Sorry I didn't understand the question. And I'm not sure if I spelled the chemical right

[@chiassoned5305]

@@isaacfulton7731 crossbow what is that, Oil? Never heard of it. Must be something known where Greg lives. Thanks for you answer.

[@isaacfulton7731]

@@chiassoned5305 I didn't know it either. And had to go look it up. It's a weed killer. The diesel let's you stretch it. And probably makes it work better. I know some people use just diesel. Crossbow is almost 100$ a gallon.

[@McCoyFamilyFarm]

If a bull is nice at 2 yrs old, will he stay nice or is it likely he'll get mean as he gets older?

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

We personally have never had a bull get mean as he grew older. You just have to be aware of the animals in your herd for any signs of aggression towards any human. Get rid of them.

[@rayward9265]

2:44 One quart of Crossbow herbicide to five gallons of diesel fuel (1:20)

[@BucketClinger]

Maybe we should bring the Auroch back and let'em loose?

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

You better practice your 100 yard dash!!!

[@kayallen7603]

I'd add a goat rotation to rid myself of scrub and then have goat cheese and goat milk soap.

[@girlymel2323]

He talks about bulls at 6:10

[@danmiller4774]

I read sharks kill 4 people A year. 22 people are killed every year from COWS. I had a HOL ST EIN SBULL take me down when I was in 7th grade .And he was a year old. I was lucky because his horns went straight out to the side. And he pushed me probably about a 100' on my was unconscious. When I woke up his head was on my chest and I took my belt off and started whipping him in the fand kicking him To get him off and ran behind a Rusted out water tank. We sold him around Christmas time. And at that time we listened to him on the radio that's a Sale barn. He was jumping gates and taken after everybody in the ring. As far as I'm concerned dairy bowls are the worst.

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Dairy bulls are absolutely monsters. They scare me just looking at them!!!

[@gregjudyregenerativerancher]

Your lucky that your alive to tell about it.

[@jeffpotipco736]

Yeah. Especially Holstein. Big.

[@muskyman26]

Don’t buy bulls with a low doc number. Easy. And don’t buy cattle that don’t have a full set of epd’s

[@kludwig7351]

Attitude kills more cattle than anything else on my ranch We have a saying for high headed cattle on my place Yo Quiro Taco Bell

[@davemi00]

Cows, Bulls or Children. Agreed! Neuter ‘em.