bringing a cow home: unloading
This question from a fellow-farmsteader:
First off, thank you so much for your workshop and all your talks at the (HOA) conference! Without you, I would not be at this stage of our farmstead. With that being said, I am wondering if I could ask for some guidance.
We have begun looking for a dairy cow that would work well for us. We found some Jersey/Dexter cross cows a couple of hours away. We are planning to go and check them out using your 15 point system. I know they will never be a perfect 15 but whichever two score the highest win.
The big thing we are thinking of is the unloading process once we get them home. If temperament allows could we just halter, them, walk them off the trailer, and put them straight into the paddock? This transition is the part I never thought of. Any thoughts on this matter would be really helpful!
Hi, NR
So: the question is about unloading: I'm assuming it's more about what to do after she's unloaded than about how to unload her? About, that is, the first few hours/days she's on your farm, and how to keep her contained, safe and happy? As it happens, we just walked another farmer through the same situation, so our thoughts are fresh in our minds.
When any animal, especially a single one (but it looks like you are planning to get two from the same source -- which helps) -- as I say, when any animal comes to a new setting there can be familiarity issues. Even when the fence is species-appropriate, strong, and completely closed (no holes/open gates), an animal that doesn't feel safe/familiar can spook and run. Not just when she's unloaded, but, for example, when she hears coyotes at midnight, or a train for the first time. And being new to this spot, and not yet having identified it with 'home', if she runs, she has not particular reason to stop running, or when she stops, to come back.
All of which is to say that animals take some time to get used to a new place, and in the best case scenario you'll make sure they can't leave -- until they no longer want to.
Even an animal that has been used to respecting polytwine might decide to ignore it if she feels unsafe in a new place. A strong perimeter fence is a good aid to sound sleep (for the farmer), never more than when there's new livestock on the farm.
That said, we've never had strong perimeter fence! We manage both farms under circumstances of restraint (can't do everything we'd like to), including that neither farm can have a strong, completely closed fence, Our farm is too steep/wooded, the convent is not ours. So, the issue of what happens when you bring in a new animal is very personal!
A new animal -- especially if there is only one -- should go inside your strongest fence for at least a day or so. Get her used to the place. If she's going into a pasture with other animals, make sure they're not harassing her, and make sure they're letting her eat. Watch her! If the food source is centralized (say you're feeding hay in winter), make sure the other animals are giving her a place at the feeder. If they have horns and she doesn't, make double sure. Maybe offer her treats for a bit. Make her think this is a really nice place, so she doesn't go looking for home.
If you don't have any really tight fences on your farm,, consider getting four stock panels (not the expensive pipe ones, just rigid welded fence panels) and eight t-posts and making a temporary corral with a little shelter (tree shade, whatever), and putting her in there for the first couple of days. It's nice if she can have a little company -- when we move a calf we want to wean, we put it with our pony while it acclimates -- so if she's joining a herd, maybe the corral can near their paddock. That way a little familiarity can be developed before she's turned out to run with the rest of the animals.
If you don't have any other animal, you be her companion. Visit her often. Take treats (apple, bread -- if she'll eat them!), whatever.
Thanks for reaching out. Best of luck! Shawn and Beth