Techniques to Halter-Break Cattle

Owning a nice heifer or steer will make you competitive in the show arena. However, good presentation can give your animal a more competitive edge for standing at the top of the class. Show your calf off to the judge by training her to calmly walk and stand on command, using effective training techniques. Effective training takes time and patience and can be made easy with the help of friends and family.

  1. Tie-up

    • Introduce your heifer or steer to a halter by tying it up with a rope halter in a large stall. Keep it tied up for several days to help it learn how to behave with a halter. Attend your animal at all times and keep it comfortable and well-fed and watered. After a couple days lead your steer or heifer to a place it is familiar with, such as a feedbunk or water tank.

    Train in Pairs

    • Cows are strong and sometimes need coaxing from two people to convince them to move.

      Recruit a friend or family member to help you train your steer or heifer. Gently tug on the halter while someone else pushes the calf from behind. Encourage the calf to move forward by talking quietly and stroking its neck. Make sure the nose-strap on the halter is placed approximately two inches below the eyes. Keep the halter from tightening around the muzzle by gently loosening it each time the calf moves in the correct direction.

    Group Training

    • Cows are herd animals and prefer the company of other cattle. Practice walking your heifer or steer with other cattle. Cows that are already trained to lead will help keep your calf calm while also acting as the lead cow for your calf to follow. Refrain from training your calf around other untrained heifers and steers as they can may feed off each other's anxiety.

    Leading For Show

    • Be consistent with your leading style so your heifer or steer does not become confused on show day. Always walk on the left side of your animal and hold its head up as if you were showing it. Practice this style every time you lead your calf to water or load it onto the trailer. Moreover, do not allow your animal to walk faster than show-pace. This will help your animal learn how to behave when led by you.