Calf Club Notes—Teaching It To Lead

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 3, 4 October 1948, Page 3

Calf Club Notes— Teaching It To Lead

Tying up or tethering is the first step in teaching your calf to lead, hut don’t tie it up all day in the hot sun without shade, as calves, like children, are liable to get sunstroke. There is no need to trouble the calf too. much in the first month, but by now the calf should be used to you. First take her very carefully and get her used to the halter. Do not tie her up till she has got over fighting with the halter and is beginning to lead a little; then, when you do tie her up she is not likely to pull back and throw herself down.' Remember, that in teaching a calf to lead you must make allowance for the different natures of different calves. Some are naturally sulky or stubborn. Much trouble can be caused by wrong methods. Often the

child gets a rope and if the calf does not come starts to pull; the calf pulls back and. the result is a tug-o’-war. Instead of going in front of the calf and trying to pull it along, get back alongside the calf and give it a light pat on the ribs. There is no need to be cruel, but with a slack lead rope and a light switch with the end of the rope the calf will move forward. Leading your calf to its milk bucket each feeding time is one way to train it, but this is only useful in the early stages, as you won’t have a milk bucket on Calf Club Day. Little rewards of pieces of apple or sugar can be used to encourage calves not willing to lead at first. The calf is usually led from the left side, being given about one foot o'f rope. If the calf is fresky the rope will be shorter to keep control, while a good-natured calf will walk with a very slack lead. A calf will generally lead better if you walk in a line with its head. Do not get in front of it as this usually makes it pull back.