Moving Cattle

If you ask my husband, one of the hardest things I’ve had to learn is how to move cows. And, if he were being honest, he would tell you that I’m failing this lesson. Watching him work the cows, he’s the Cow Whisperer. He uses patience, understanding, and consistency to create a relationship of trust – they know what to expect from him and what he expects of them.

In a herd, some cattle are smarter than the others. Some are wilder or more nervous. Others are mellow and less easily alarmed. Working with them everyday, my husband can tell you which lady is wild, which is mellow, and which one to avoid when calves are on the ground. And, more often than not, he knows who is who by their color, body, or face.

Cow disposition and personality is a combination of their genetics and their experiences. And when it comes to raising Limousin cattle, improved disposition is the number-one breed priority, according to the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF). In fact, NALF developed the cattle industry’s first temperament or docility (DOC) expected progeny difference (EPD), which has created an increased proportion of calmer animals within the breed

But, it doesn’t matter how calm, docile, or gentile they are – they won’t go where you want them to if you don’t know how to move them. There is an art to it but there is also a science. They have pressure zones, flight zones, and a blind spot. They respond to pressure and reward; and, the minute you forget the proper distance to get the proper response, they will take advantage by darting in the wrong direction.

When they scatter, run, flee, you usually have to start from the beginning and everyone is frustrated. After four years of training, I know that I am failing this lesson. But, I believe I am improving. My husband tends to leave the fields a little less frustrated with me than he was the day before.

Cattle are intelligent and curious. The more I learn from and about them, the faster I can become better at caring for them. Then maybe I can also become a cow whisperer – or just be a good second hand for when my husband does his cow whispering.