I have a three year old high park steer who is very sweet and loves affection. He licks us and rubs his head against us. In the past few months he gets the zoomies and runs around when we are in the fence with him but he really leans his head into us and he’s almost knocked me over. I guess I’m trying to tell the difference between him being playful or if he’s trying to dominate us and how to correct it. Thank you!
Baymule
Herd Master
Playful or not, his behavior has become a danger to you. You might want to carry a hoe handle for a poking stick. If he gets too close, poke him. I use one when I have a ramming ram. I poke hard and it throws them off. Don't pet him when he runs up to you, that is rewarding bad behavior. Pet him only when he is calm or when YOU approach HIM.
@farmerjan
@farmerjan
SteepedInSheep
True BYH Addict
I'm certainly no expert but I never allow larger animals to rub their heads on me. People see it as affection when they're little but that too easily can teach the animal they're stronger than you and that they can boss you around. Just my cats are allowed to rub their heads on me. 
farmerjan
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Agree with both above. Cattle do dominance with rubbing, pushing with their heads.
Unfortunately, correcting may not b e possible... and the only way to even hope to stop it is to get rather aggressive with him and to NOT let him rub his head on you ever again. Also agree that if he is going to run and all that, he should not b e given any type of affection until he is calm and quiet.
Does he have anyone else (bovine) in the field to play with? He is starving for the typical interaction with other cattle.
If he was mine, he would be taught a few lessons with a good crack across his nose when he tried the pushing... rub his neck and his sides all you want... NO PETS OR RUBBING of the head face on... EVER with any type of animal like that... Look at all the pictures of bulls fighting, deer, rams actually ramming each other... goats doing the head to head stuff... mature males ... fixed or not.... have to dominate and the way they do so is head to head....
The thing is, he does not want to be mean, he simply sees you as his playmate, someone he can and will push around... this is typical behavior for a steer/bull/ram/male of any breed and does not have to be intact male... he wants to play, his play is to dominate whatever he is playing with. It will not lessen...
Stop it now,,, or get rid of him. Sounds to me like he is the perfect size to be beef on the table... harsh as that might sound.
Unfortunately, correcting may not b e possible... and the only way to even hope to stop it is to get rather aggressive with him and to NOT let him rub his head on you ever again. Also agree that if he is going to run and all that, he should not b e given any type of affection until he is calm and quiet.
Does he have anyone else (bovine) in the field to play with? He is starving for the typical interaction with other cattle.
If he was mine, he would be taught a few lessons with a good crack across his nose when he tried the pushing... rub his neck and his sides all you want... NO PETS OR RUBBING of the head face on... EVER with any type of animal like that... Look at all the pictures of bulls fighting, deer, rams actually ramming each other... goats doing the head to head stuff... mature males ... fixed or not.... have to dominate and the way they do so is head to head....
The thing is, he does not want to be mean, he simply sees you as his playmate, someone he can and will push around... this is typical behavior for a steer/bull/ram/male of any breed and does not have to be intact male... he wants to play, his play is to dominate whatever he is playing with. It will not lessen...
Stop it now,,, or get rid of him. Sounds to me like he is the perfect size to be beef on the table... harsh as that might sound.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
And --- add a BIG ball to play with & knock around.
Smack his nose if he tries the head rubbing. A ruler works well...or such a piece of wood, etc. a good whap, not a teaser.
Smack his nose if he tries the head rubbing. A ruler works well...or such a piece of wood, etc. a good whap, not a teaser.
farmerjan
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Yeah, you could try one of those big balls that have like a handle on top that horses will play with, pick up and toss around...
Ridgetop
Herd Master
Were you raising this steer for meat? If so, now is the time to butcher him. All this advice is good and needs to be followed. This type of behavior in a 300 lb. calf may be cute, in a 1200 lb. steer it's just dangerous. Many experienced people have been injured or killed by "docile" "sweet" "tame" farm animals. At 3 years he probably can't be retrained but will react very well to a BBQ grill.
We are not heartless or mean when we advise this option, but looking out for your safety. If you can't bring yourself to put your pet in your freezer, cattle prices are crazy high right now and he should bring about $3000 at auction.
We are not heartless or mean when we advise this option, but looking out for your safety. If you can't bring yourself to put your pet in your freezer, cattle prices are crazy high right now and he should bring about $3000 at auction.
