The Training Pen with Ken Sykes Yard Training Weaner Cattle

Ken Sykes

Ken Sykes has been working with sheepdogs most of his life. A successful competitor at sheepdog trials, Ken has now retired from running training days for livestock producers and giving working dog demonstrations. He is a feature writer and speaker. His expertise draws on a broad range of research as well as practical expertise.

If there is one thing guaranteed to cause heated debate amongst cattlemen, it is whether dogs should be used for yard training of weaner cattle. There is little doubt that if the dogs are hard biting and not under control, the results will be the opposite of the ideal of calm, well-controlled cattle. At the other end of the spectrum, calm, quiet, strong, well-controlled dogs will result in calm, quiet cattle that remain easy to muster and handle through the yards for the rest of their lives.

I have seen excellent results with low-stress stock handling advocates working weaners through the yards without dogs.

I have also seen excellent results using similar techniques with the addition of well-trained dogs. The use of dogs may also improve the handler’s safety, particularly when working in large yards and when we progress to lane and paddock work.

Training weaners may be one of the best investments in time on any cattle property. The same may apply to the training of bought-in cattle. A few hours spent now may save many hours later.

Sykes

Calm cattle gain weight, are much easier to muster, and are much safer to work in the yards.

Weaner training can be an excellent experience for young dogs in training, but there are a couple of essential considerations. The dog must always win, and the cattle must never learn they can walk over the dog. This can be a problem with bought-in Bos indicus cattle that have not previously worked with dogs or cattle of any breed that have been harassed by dingoes.

I prefer a mob size of twenty to fifty head in a large secure yard. I will always use a mature, strong dog for the initial handling until the stock have learned to respect the dog. With challenging cattle, I would use more than one experienced dog. Get some movement and send the dog to the head to block. Once the dog can consistently block and hold the weaners and move them around the yard, steadying them as they move from yard to yard, I will add the young dog in training. Initially, the older dog will be worked with the pup to build confidence.

The next step is important for the young dog and the stock, with each mob being let out into a lane or holding paddock with the dog preventing any attempt to rush. All work is done calmly, with the dog learning to work quietly and confidently at the head and working clockwise and anticlockwise as required. The stock are allowed to graze and calmly walked back to the yards.

This calm, steady work is excellent training for the young dog at the same time resulting in stock that are far safer and easier to muster.