"poultry is in fact a gateway drug to larger animals" XD I gotta agree on that.

@AFFarms444

2 жыл бұрын

😂, yes. 100%

@heatheraldrich1156

2 жыл бұрын

Haha seriously so true!

@CaryKelly11

2 жыл бұрын

Anybody wanna smoke a little poultry?

@Fiona2254

2 жыл бұрын

Yep. But I'll limit myself tp dwarf Nigerian goats. Way easier to deal with than cows lol

@skullykittie9889

2 жыл бұрын

All lies!! Hmmm? Noise you say? Oink? Excuse me that is not a pig in a dog costume.... /nudges door closed. Good day sir! I said good day!

Toby: "Wait so im no longer the biggest thing on the farm???"

@silenceofdoom

2 жыл бұрын

I wonder how the cows would learn to interact with Toby and the cats

@candacesteiger5906

2 жыл бұрын

@@silenceofdoom in my experiences with my grandparents dairy farm, the barn cats know how to keep a healthy perimeter around the cattle and don’t do anything stupid to risk a trampling. Cattle will easily trample small creatures…or even much bigger ones like people…when they’re startled or threatened by something unfamiliar/scary and cattle are pretty easily spooked. My dad fell off his horse in a pasture with a grumpy bull and had the horse not stood over top him and protected him the bull would have stomped him.

@sylviamaresca8852

2 жыл бұрын

@@candacesteiger5906 wow

Well I have had cattle for close to sixty years now. There are some things you need to know/do. 1) Confine the cattle in your barn or a smaller pasture with a GOOD fence not electric fence. 2) Acclimate the cattle to you and your land/barn/pasture. This will take weeks not days. Definitely not hours. 3) Keep the side by side/dog too, away from them until they are used to one. It looked like the had NOT been around humans very much, let alone one riding in some thing noisy. 4) Keep your movements steady not hurried. Always talk softly/calm/steady to them as you walk around them or handle them. This way you do not startle them. (No Banging gates!!! LOL) 5) A highland breed is one of the harder ones to keep confined. They can be stubborn and will use their horns to tear up fence to get where they want. Your facing an uphill battle to keeping them confined with electric fence. Also their long hair helps insulate them from the electric fence too. 6) Out smart them, forget brute force. Start feeding them some sweet feed. Ground oats with molasses works well. Your idea of apples MIGHT work but I have not had much luck with that type of treat. Shortly you will be able to lead them with a bucket of sweet feed. Yes I said lead not chase. ( The reason I recommend sweetened oats to you is they are readily available as horse feed. About every farm supply place in the US will have sweet horse feed.) Example: We keep 100 brood cows year round. They get fed a few buckets of ground sweet feed everyday. I do not care if they are standing in waist deep grass, they get a "treat" every single day. We always feed them with white five gallon buckets. My wife or I can take an empty five gallon bucket and lead them where ever we want them to go. We have a JD Gator and they are used to us bringing them the sweet feed in it. So when they hear it they come running. A few ton of feed per year is cheap when we can easily check on them at anytime. So best of luck!!! Enjoy your cattle.

@turps2433

2 жыл бұрын

Underrated comment

@diane9247

2 жыл бұрын

GREAT list of suggestions!

@swamp-yankee

2 жыл бұрын

I just raise sheep, but I have a friend with highlands and highland crosses. Electric fencing is very effective on their farm. Theyve got high tensile perimeter and use temporary one wire temporary fences within the farm. They don't rip on the electric fencing because they don't enjoy shocks. From my experience with sheep it seems like even breeds with wild reputations from unhandled or mishandled flocks can be trained and contained with patience, and good management. I think his Highlands will work fine for the system he's trying to do once they get used to it and warm up to him.

@alliechampagne1404

2 жыл бұрын

@@swamp-yankee Key takeaway here? *HIGH TENSILE. An expertly installed high tensile perimeter works amazing for cattle. Panels for crowding & moving, and small areas for handling will be essential too. Not saying he needs to go all-in chute system right off, but I think eventually it'll be on the scene.

@alliechampagne1404

2 жыл бұрын

Excellent suggestions. 10/10!👍

This brings back memories😂. My husband, and his brother raised Angus and they would escape. We had electric and barb wire fences. They would get calls from neighbors saying they had broken out. My husband, a professor would be interrupted while in class and his brother, a federal judge would be interrupted while in court. So irritating. (And funny to me)

Gotta add my 2¢ in. First, I'm not a farmer. My grandparents were small dairy farmers and I have a brother who has a few head of cattle. You need to train the cattle, just like you have trained the ducks. Bring treats (apples) and say "dinner time" or whatever, and give them the treat. Start moving further away and say your cue with the treat, and they will follow. Pretty soon, you can stand at the bottom of the pasture and yell your cue and they will come running. It worked for my grandfather and works for my brother. And that's my 2¢.

@StAmander

2 жыл бұрын

Came to say this, not a farmer, but generally speaking animals respond better to kindness and food better than more aggressive tactics. This isn't to say not to have an electric fence, but rather to create a bond between you and the cows where the cows feel safe around you (and the other animals). I've learned from rearing animals who were neglected, not properly trained, possibly abused and other behavioral issues, that the best and most effective way is to be loving, kind and patient with them. I've gotten to the point where animals that wouldn't listen to people, would listen to me and started being way calmer and better behaved.

@saraschneider6781

2 жыл бұрын

So true. I wonder what corny phrase he'll come up with.

@lynnbetts4332

2 жыл бұрын

My father would call his cows with a call that sounded like a cow bellowing. Sort of Hoooo-aaahhh. They would come running. These cows will be bit harder to train to food since they have never been given treats or cattle cube. Having some cube just as a treat is a great way to bucket train them to follow you anywhere.

@katjordan3733

2 жыл бұрын

@@StAmander You are SO right it takes time and consistency, bribery, and patience.

@gillianmuspic2337

2 жыл бұрын

@@katjordan3733 true. Nothing wrong with bribery if it is used with positivity to the 'bribee'

Since you have a ranger I'd recommend putting whatever hay you're feeding them in the back and have a special call like you do for the various poultry. That way you don't have to chase them and can more easily move them where you need to. Fun fact ranchers in Africa have special songs for calling their herds passed down generation by generation. There's somewhere here on KZread with a rancher who set up car wash looking brushes for his cattle to scratch themselves with that the cows LOVE.

@janetyurkin822

2 жыл бұрын

Are…* I’ve seen those. These are two posts I saw 1.Tom Pemberton Farm Life 2. is comic sup video There were a few others also.

@werewolfwill7126

2 жыл бұрын

there is a Swedish tradition as well it's called Kulning if you look it up its actually very beautiful

@gensmith6661

2 жыл бұрын

Yep! All my experiences working on farms, having a specific food call and a food vehicle, they will follow you, even without the food there (and especially when you don't want them to!)

@susiek.johnson3923

2 жыл бұрын

KABOOSSSSS 🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂🐃🐮

@Ben-fk9ey

2 жыл бұрын

This is 100% true. My Dad could call most of the heard to the gate with a specific call every day for milking.

I’ve seen a couple of comments about feeding cattle “treat feed” so to say, and I can attest to that. My grandfather has about 20 head of cattle that I help him with, and having them grain trained (What we call it) makes it much easier. They spend their summer on pasture on a farm down the road, and we don’t work with them for up to weeks at a time during that time of year. I can walk out into that pasture anytime of day with a bucket of grain and call for them, and they come running. The calf’s and young heifers that aren’t trained yet will follow the older animals that get the drift. This isn’t an overnight thing. Animals we calve take up to 2 years to get onto it, and animals bought (like your situation) can take up to a year depending on where the animal came from. I’ve never worked with Highlanders, but even if you start now it will take you months to get them to the point where they will run to you no matter what. You already know that farming is a labour of love, and cattle are no exception. Just keep at it, all gets easier with time.

My family is a group of farmers and so am I. A good skill is “Baiting” and making bonds with the cows. When you give them a nice living space then they will not try to escape. I recommend waiting a couple of days to try to interact with them. If you bring them some hay and stand close while they are eating they will form a bond with you and after a while you should be able to interact with them

Morgan, just my thoughts...Animals (including cows) feel the humans excitement/anxiety etc. My recommendation is to get a lawn chair, a good book, some snacks for you and the apple basket for them and then go out and sit”near by” for several days, and let them get used to you as none being a threat. Have just a couple of words that you use to refer to them so they will see the “snacks” and come to you. Since they are free range cows, this could take you some time, but eventually you can get them to come on command. Maybe a small cowbell that says, I have snacks. But for now, just let them settle in (on their terms) and you be there to show them you are friend not foe. Ease Toby in slowly.

@Katojana

2 жыл бұрын

that was exactly my idea. like he did with the barn cats.

@JohnP538

2 жыл бұрын

They way they are all tightly packed together is their defensive mode. A bucket full of apples that you can rattle a little will work wonders. Cows need water to work their cud so you are going to need a stock tank out there.

@cmel7841

2 жыл бұрын

yup this works with most animals, I used to feed squirrels, chipmunks and birds this way out in the woods, just sit down, have a handfull of nuts and seeds and you would be surprised how many little critters come to visit. A moving human is a "predator"

@bettyrickert7272

2 жыл бұрын

Great advice 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

@blaircox1589

2 жыл бұрын

That and you didn't have a properly fenced paddock for their initial introduction. Electric fence is a learned psychological deterant. They didn't even know it was there, and if they got zapped going through, just made then run more. Anyhoo, my 2cents from recalling my grandfather's small beef farm. Round them up, get them secured settled and used to their surroundings. Grandpa would call them by hollering, 'co-boss! co-boss, co co co'. They would hear him and come running. Can be anything really, just consistent and easy.

Good for you man! Make the mistakes, learn the lessons, pay the stupid tax. Its how you really grow as a person and I respect you for being willing to take those lumps.

@saraschneider6781

2 жыл бұрын

At least his animals don't have to pay the stupid tax for him this time.

@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648

2 жыл бұрын

@@saraschneider6781 Cattle cared for with a conscience

@travisz11

2 жыл бұрын

Being an idiot should not be appreciated

@queeny5613

2 жыл бұрын

I love thia

"My farming has never gone down a traditional path." Hasn't the traditional path of farming (as opposed to modern factory farming) always been exceptional farming? A swan's legs are a chaotic mess below the water, but the end result above the water, is the appearance of pure grace.

I'm worried about your easygoing, sweet dog, Toby. He's not a cattle dog & he has no idea about being kicked in the head or gored. And all cattle kick! It's one foot out at the speed of light & then it's lights out for a dog, coyote or whoever. My uncle's German shepherd ran into a field of holsteins & was chased to death. Cattle are not easily intimidated.

@roborat

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah

@lynneanthony168

2 жыл бұрын

Seriously.....wow.

@datraptor2506

2 жыл бұрын

My dog has literally almost died five times, from cows and horses

I like that you've chosen to work on gaining your cattle's trust. Since most of the contact they had with their last owner was just bringing them food, they really had no idea what you wanted. Bring them treats should help them see you in a positive way.

The day we’ve all been waiting for

@amandabessey4631

2 жыл бұрын

Yesir

@plankface

2 жыл бұрын

For sure..

Well you picked a good breed of cattle. Highlanders are generally considered docile and non aggressive. They are also some of the most tolerant and the most intelligent and easily trainable breeds out there. So just keep working them. Handle as often as possible. Once they are comfortable with you up close go for physical handling. I have seen that the Highlander is a breed that adores being brushed and their fur can be brushed out for a use that is similar to wool.

Honestly, I think any of us who have animals have had those days where we get stuck in our own goals and schedules rather than stepping back and seeing how we're being counterproductive in trying to force our animals to behave a certain way. You're absolutely right to step back, calm down, and go to the carrot (or in this case, apple) rather than the stick. I've never had cattle but horses and rabbits have taught me that animals of prey are very good at finding any way past you if you try to catch them!

i can see morgan riding a horse moving his cattle from pasture to pasture in a few years.

@raedaily9854

2 жыл бұрын

Actually, he needs to think Switzerland, not Texas for what he wants to do. :)

@veramae4098

2 жыл бұрын

A Morgan horse? (An actual breed.)

@mjg2008121

2 жыл бұрын

Or a even donkey

@rogerhuber3133

2 жыл бұрын

@@veramae4098 Appropriate for Vermont! Great working horses.

@elleschultz969

2 жыл бұрын

I hope so!!

Lived on a farm where we usually had 60 to 80 head of cattle at any one time. Chased down several cows having trouble birthing and hooked the calves to a come-a-long to aid with delivery. I was with them every day and fed them on a daily basis with hay and feed. After awhile I swear they looked forward to my daily visits and if I didn't have that interaction with them they became nervous and unsettled. In the winter in Kentucky it gets very cold and I would use feeding time (hay) to walk among them and even speak to them in a calming voice and they would react to me by staying close by. I literally raised these cows as my friends and we developed a close relationship. It was tough to take part of the herd to market every Fall, believe me. So don't ever feel bad about treating animals with the love and respect they deserve. They are all God's creatures.

@JohnTalbot-k6xi

2 жыл бұрын

Better System of Cattle Fencing between paddocks and dedicated Cattle alleyways to move them with steel swinging gates -best of luck

@Ben-fk9ey

2 жыл бұрын

The best farmers are always the smaller ones, the mega industrial "farms" give the rest of us a bad name!

@agentfrankvideos

2 жыл бұрын

...God's tasty creatures !!!

@catsj1767

2 жыл бұрын

How cold??? Nebraska is - 30 in End of Jan - Feb 🥶 that’s when my furnace goes out

@datraptor2506

2 жыл бұрын

@@catsj1767 now try living in Canada when it’s -48 and the hinges on the doors are frozen shut

"If a cow gets chocked it backs right back up" only apply to a cow sniffing on the wire and get a chock to the nose. If the cow is in panic or 'flee mode' they will run through no matter what if the wire can be broken. Been dealing with cattle for 13 years and breakouts are always a thing when summer comes.

Big city girl here. Know nothing about farming except it's a lot of hard work - never ending. I appreciate your care for the animals and your humility regarding your learning curve. All the best to your endeavors.

who knew highlander cattle are such, cow-wards *bows profusely* , thank you, thank you ill be here all day

@anneh1890

2 жыл бұрын

Who knew they would be up to so much bull shit :]

@navlisking

2 жыл бұрын

@@anneh1890 that is borderline bull-ying

@Flamme-Sanabi

2 жыл бұрын

Please! Another one!

@justacasual212

2 жыл бұрын

yes YES! entertain me, jester!

@alonelyz1981

2 жыл бұрын

That was a very cow-medic comment

Once again, you have proved that you are a great storyteller, a bit like James Harriot, but from the farmer’s perspective. Good luck with the cows. I foresee many more interesting and entertaining tales.

@thunderpup7899

2 жыл бұрын

So true lol.

@doggo999

2 жыл бұрын

Oh, nice call out. Morgan, have you read Herriot? If you haven't, get thee to a book monger posthaste!

@deborahlozano7134

2 жыл бұрын

Today I finished reading- All Creatures Great and Small:)

@dutchman7623

2 жыл бұрын

@Neela Willis Me too. With the ducks he started with ducklings, but with cattle he got grown ups... trying to teach them his ways. That's going to be fun. I like Morgan very much, but...

I gained a lot of respect for you in this video. Compassion for the animals is so important to remember, especially when the intent is to harvest. It can take a lot to step back and see that it’s not about you and your convenience when frustrated with anything lacking self awareness. Big props to you my man

Farmers: "We're a dying breed and statistically most farmers are nearing retirement age without replacements" Someone: Ok, I'll be a farmer Farmers: "NOT LIKE THAT" So many people give you crap just because you didn't have the benefit of being reared on a farm or an agricultural education

@aidanmolloy6675

2 жыл бұрын

They're just giving him the benefit of their experience. No one was born knowing how to do anything until someone showed them how. He makes a lot of unnecessary mistakes, pretty sure he's happy to get advice from people who have much more experience farming than he does

@CharlesCorbett

2 жыл бұрын

@@aidanmolloy6675 yeah and they are often jerks about it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ best way to ensure your skills don't get passed on and nobody takes up your mantle is to be a jerk about passing those skills and knowledge on

@aidanmolloy6675

2 жыл бұрын

@@CharlesCorbett in fairness its a bit of a stretch to even call him a farmer, he has a few cows & birds. In Donegal where i'm from that would be considered a hobby not a farm. I stopped watching his vids cause got fed up watching him, he hasn't a clue what he's doing

@CharlesCorbett

2 жыл бұрын

​@@aidanmolloy6675 Some here in the US would argue you aren't a "farmer" unless you have 1000 acres of barren wheatland with ruined soil and $50,000,000 in large machinery

@aidanmolloy6675

2 жыл бұрын

@@CharlesCorbett i see your edited comment mate, can hardly moan about people being jerks then turn round & make a jerky comment yourself!!! When did I ever imply Donegal was the authority on farming? Fact is we are a farming county, not the only 1 nor would I even claim we are the best but considering most of us were either raised on a farm or nxt door to 1 i can guarantee your average man on the street there knows a lot more about farming than this guy. Fair play to him he's following & living his dream, can't knock that but the fact remains he doesn't know what he's doing. Hopefully he'll learn but at the moment he could do with all the advice he can get

It is so touching to see how you care and do what is best for the animals! I'm so glad you mentioned Temple Grandin. One person can make such a difference to bring compassion and eliminate suffering of the wonderful animals we share the Earth with.

Cattle MUST have a strong, well made perimeter fence. They also need strong, solid small area fencing. I feel for you Morgan...you have a lot to learn about cattle. Good luck to you! Also....it takes two to herd cattle on a property new to them. You were right to ' let them settle'. But.. it could take several days for that to happen!

@diane9247

2 жыл бұрын

Right. I think his best bet is just to butter them up for awhile - as I think he'll do.

The fact that this video exists says a lot about the man making it. I love your honesty, I love how you allow us in. You are a good man.

Morgan, you’re a very good person. You’re going to succeed in whatever endeavor you take on.

Infrastructure is very important. What are you going to do if one of them need handled by a vet? You have no corral or ally way. A good strong holding corral would have been handy to hold the cattle, with hay and water available, for a week or two to settle them down and get them used to their new home and surroundings. Also the corral could have been used to train them to the electric fence. Just suggestions from my years of experience. I know most young people don't think us old farts know anything so use it how you wish. Good luck.

@miditrax

2 жыл бұрын

Agree - wire does not a corral make. Need strong horizontal wood or metal slats, plus cement-rooted poles, with feeding and water troughs inside. Similar reinforcements inside the barn, if you don't want them to break out and trash the place. Also consider a cattle chute, for vet visits and the like. Good luck with the herd.

@alliechampagne1404

2 жыл бұрын

💯💯💯

@suzib777

2 жыл бұрын

My dad raised Hereford cattle with one black Angus bull. We had only 40 acres, but that was divided into 4 pastures, 2 corrals, a loading chute and an area for my 4-H Angus. We rotated our cattle once a week and then irrigated the pasture where they just left. This was in the late 60's, so I'm sure things have changed, but it worked for my dad, except for the ups and downs of beef prices....

@FirstLast-po8oz

2 жыл бұрын

the fencing is for pasteurizing. I'd assume he has other plans for herding and corralling closer to the barn.

Morgan, I live in Brazil and we use horses for herding cows, here the terrain is quite irregular, so many times we have to herd them through rivers and rough pastures. I think that on your poultry farm, using a horse is a nice way to hearing the cows and avoid the terrain problem that the Atvs have, I also think that the cows have less stress with a horse than an Atvs, but this is just my thoughts. Good luck with your new stubborn friends.

@lararabb8888

2 жыл бұрын

A horse should only carry 20% of its weight. Morgan is not a small or light man. He'd have to have a large horse.

@mpen4358

2 жыл бұрын

Another adventure on the farm

@aniquinstark4347

2 жыл бұрын

@@lararabb8888 A donkey or a mule would work. They're not terribly expensive either, even fully trained ones.

@notlinjr

2 жыл бұрын

Horses would work out if the cows were already used to them. For awhile where he's keeping the animals is safe and with some time they're gonna get acclimated to the new place and with Morgan himself and it'll get easier to manage them.

@diane9247

2 жыл бұрын

@@notlinjr All good points!

I’m impressed by how you pulled yourself together and put the cattle first. Rock on!

You gotta have a strong fence for cows, especially tough ones like highlands (from what I've heard), and a crush if you can get one. Grew up watching family members and other farmers with their cows, and I noticed they had a crush or at least a narrow passage out of a corral, so they could confine the cow. Very useful if the cow ever needed a vet or some sort of look over.

Oh no! The reason I don't have larger animals yet is because I can't afford propper fencing. I will get there, but your experience made me see that I'ts smart to wait!

@keptinkaos6384

2 жыл бұрын

Start with some heifers yearlings you can grow with them...

@prcervi

2 жыл бұрын

sturdier fencing is a good idea, though these ones were just kinda panicy and will probably acknowledge the light fencing when they calm down(and visibility is better, they might just not see the fence through the fog)

@beulahacreshomestead1927

2 жыл бұрын

@@prcervi So true!

@katjordan3733

2 жыл бұрын

Proper fencing makes a WORLD of difference! My horses could find the break in the electric fence and go visit the neighbors. Frustrating.

@suestoons

2 жыл бұрын

Containment from Day 1 is absolutely key. I'm of the "more is more" containment practice, hubby is more like Morgan fly by the seat of your pants. I do like the suggestion of Keptin Kaos, start with babies. It's *always* easier to train from a younger age. No matter what, it's just going to take time and patience. I discovered with our first foray into chickens that I do not have the patience for dealing with livestock. Good Luck!

Tell the truth pablo set them free

I am so impressed at the tight-knit group of the cattle. Until now, I was unaware of how social and intelligent cattle are. Almost brings tears to my eyes at how stressful they have found their new life. Thank you Morgan for regaining your perspective and your values.

We met Temple Grandin out at Colorado State University’ vet school years and years ago. What a brilliant person. You’re looking to the right people in shaping your strategies!

I really love how much you care about your animals. It's a joy to watch your farm grow and develop along side your farming abilities. Congratulations on your new cows Morgan!!

I blame the red sweater for everything. If cartoons have taught me anything it’s that cows hate red. Also very exciting to watch this part of your journey unfold!

@scsfulsarahr598

2 жыл бұрын

Very good point. I was thinking the same thing.

@colecolettecole

2 жыл бұрын

atv was red too ~ i noticed the red clothing as well ~ yes this is jolly good educational entertainment ~ best reality show besides sports ~ especially ice hockey

@davemeise2192

2 жыл бұрын

Ha ha, that's funny. I remember lots of cartoons with cows, bulls etc and red. LOL. Cows don't actually see red. They see more in the blue or green spectrum so to them it's kind of like a shade of green. Dogs are the same and that's why a dog can't find a red ball on a green lawn. They have to find it by smell.

@yinhsuliu6617

2 жыл бұрын

lol nice reminder lol

@jacktheripper4970

2 жыл бұрын

it's the movement of the cape that gets the bull, the color red is just to hide blood stains when they stab the bull.

So glad you brought up Temple Grandin! I am a vet student and she has given us a few lectures. I can't speak more highly of her. Thanks for sharing your trials and tribulations with us as always, it's fun to see the learning and growing process. Excited for what the farm has in store for the future.

Some folks I know keep new cattle in a hard-fenced paddock with a really hot single wire for a few days. During this time they get to know where home is and get to respect the fence. Plus they spend time in the paddock with their cows so the cows get to know them more quickly.

The old saying the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. That saying is not just for humans I’ve learned with time. I’ve seen cattle ranchers drive into their pasture’s and no matter how far the cattle are they come running to their owner’s truck. It will take time but you will earn their respect.

Leading herd animals, you infront, is less stressful on everyone then pushing the herd, you behind. Heed other's comment about luring them in with food rewards, takes a bit of time and calmness but, totally worth every ounce of effort!

@kensmith5694

2 жыл бұрын

Yes and after you have done that several times, the cows will come if you call them. You can give them a treat every 3rd or 4th time and they will still come.

I agree with you, Morgan! Being the best caregiver you can be, raising happy animals without their experiencing fear, stress and pain, will give you the best results for all your hard work! That is Temple's whole concept!🐂🐮🐓🐱🐝🐤🐣🐶

Those cows are adorable! I love how they stay close to each other to feel safe when the crazy guy, the big white dog and a strange flying machine seem out to get them. You are right, they are terrified. They need a friend, or two. Like maybe a friendly guy, a nice dog, and no crazy flying machine. I bet they liked the apples! Morgan, I am sure you will win them over, in a week or so... But you'll need more apples!

You DO have some adventures don't you? Cattle day 1. and already your first challenge. You are every one of us and so relatable. That is what makes your channel so great. That and you do have a knack for storytelling.

We love you just the way you are!!! Good luck with the cattle Morgan!

I was watching a demonstration on Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Colorado. The herder stood in an empty pasture and called them. The cattle responded by leaving the pasture they were in, crossing a county road, and walking to the man calling. He told me he learned the call from his father. Sunrise Ranch is a good resource for humane cattle raising.

I love your attitude. You are teachable and humble. Your herd will teach you what you need to learn, and your cattle will learn to accept and trust you. You are a good steward on your farm, and that is so much better than being a boss. You are getting it.

Been waiting for this...it did not disappoint!! You can tell a very entertaining story, and they are always welcome. Oh, by the way...your editing is super!

@sdgna

2 жыл бұрын

I was thinking that too. the production value is great.

Now, you’re a real farmer because you have livestock. LOL. On a serious note, you made a goal, you made plan, and you made it happen. Well done.

@glengillis7775

2 жыл бұрын

Now to make it happen. That's the tricky long term part. Good luck we are all rooting for ya

@swamp-yankee

2 жыл бұрын

With folks in New England it seems one cow and you're a real and serious farmer, but 500 ewes, and you're still just a guy with an annoying hobby.

Morgan, As an experienced keeper of three chickens, I can say this. I bought my coop in 2016 and had been reading on and off for years before, all around the subject. The more I read, the more complicated everything seemed. But by watching KZread videos it became apparent to me how simple it could be. In 2018 we got our three Light Sussex and they have been gardening and giving eggs since then. They look in great shape. They are in a secure garden. They have a safe coop, that we lock tight every night and the dog and two cats keep visitors at bay. There is a simple feeding regime of layers pellets, mixed grain and cracked corn. I use food grade diatomaceous earth to sanitise their accommodation and put it in their food periodically to worm them. Raw apple cider vinegar in the water. Job done. I got to this relaxed position by leaving the books behind, watching others and gleaning these few key points. I can see the parallel in your journey with the Cows and am sure you too will soon relax into a new routine with them. Speak softly, move gracefully about them and they will warm to you. See how they face you when you approach, they look beautiful with five picture perfect faces showing. What they are actually showing you is a 3500lb problem if you spook them. Be careful, lucky and above all yourself. Great video. Regards to Allison. Stephen.

I love everything that you are about with your farm. I love that you don't hide anything from the videos. You are a true farmer with so much love.

Morgan! I really want the Scottish Highland Cattle to work out for you, and I know that it Will! You are always learning new things and that is why it Will work out, myself and your subscribers are 100% rooting for you to succeed!

@scsfulsarahr598

2 жыл бұрын

Yes! Yes, we are! 🥰

I'm so jealous. These would be my dream cows. I can't wait to watch while you get to know your cattle and see how weird they can be--they each will have their own personalities.

I'm honestly dreading watching you the next while, cattle are HARD, and you picked the kind that's even more difficult due to having Massive Horns to worry about.

@travisz11

2 жыл бұрын

He doesn’t know

@Autumn-Leafeon

2 жыл бұрын

@@travisz11 He's going to fucking die...or get his herd killed. Hopefully neither happen, but it's good to know what you're supposed to do BEFORE you get the large animals, right?

@lindatisue733

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, and those aren't good for meat or milk nor are they gentle. I'd call them novelity cows.

@AngelMGordon

2 жыл бұрын

@@lindatisue733 Highland cattle can provide the opportunity to produce a premium quality beef with less cost and effort. They fit into a variety of styles of operations from small farm to commercial beef operations. They are a multi-purpose animal, producing meat, milk, and fiber.

@datraptor2506

2 жыл бұрын

@@lindatisue733 if he wanted cattle that can produce milk and beef, as well as survive climate, he should have just gotten Herefords, they are one of the calmest breeds of cattle I can think of

Their rationale, let’s get this guy trained right off the bat about the cattle biz! We’ll teach him a thing or two! We’re not as dumb as people say we are. MOO! We’ll clue him in, real quick about who’s in charge of us.🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮 This was a great video! Very entertaining

Toby’s probably excited to add the cattle to his guard list

@paulamccarthy9511

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, Toby seemed curious but very respectful about giving the cattle space, as not to cause undo stress.

You are a kind and wise man. "It even could take a month or two to earn their respect." Admirable, Morgan.

They're GORGEOUS. Look at those sweet faces.

Totally get the “gateway drug” animals. It all started with a small aquarium when I was like 5 years old. Then hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Then dogs, goats, ducks, and horses!

@issaceash7500

2 жыл бұрын

I love hamsters lol

Love how you introduce Toby dog to them Was an awesome technique 👏

I cannot thank you enough for these videos! They bring so much joy into my life!!!

Yep! Wearing bright colors and smashing a metal gate with fresh, but grown up cattle, is a really good idea... Ever wondered why farmers overalls are dark green or dark blue? In the Netherlands Highlanders are used in National Parks to keep those areas free of trees, they really like young trees as food. Maybe it would have been wise to start with a few calves, who are curious and will come to you, and they grow fast, really fast. And there a Dutch saying: Never try to teach an old cow new habits...

Awww Morgan I was surprised when you didn't start with an apple and a gentle greeting of those adorable beasts. Then you finally mentioned Temple G. She's the one, the go to person for cattle. I've watched the movie and heard a couple lectures. You may just pull this off with patience and persistence. Carry on

I'm sure you've seen him but over on Tom Pemberton's channel he attributes the ease of working with his cows to hand feeding them the good stuff. 'cake' he calls it but it's the yummy bag food vs just hay. They pretty quickly associate the sound of the bag with tasty tasty cake food and fallow him just about anywhere he needs them to go. Maybe something to try if you hadn't planned to already.

Morgan...you need to check out " Our Wyoming Life " and watch how Mike interacts with his cattle. What he does to move them around and gain their trust. He has 200 cows right now give or take and basically deals with them all on his own.😁

Temple Grandin was brilliant beyond her years. What a hero for the cattle community

Get a cattle stick with a flag on the end, not a shock stick, just something that increases your arm width as far as the cattle think. I think that lady you spoke of is austistic which I think helped her see what gave her comfort and related it to animals. Love the comment “ I don’t know where my cows are”. Well sounds like you are on the right track; you understand your limits, what lack of knowledge you have will be gained from doing. Live and learn, go for it!

@Ben-fk9ey

2 жыл бұрын

With cows speaking softly and carrying a big stick works wonders. As you said it helps increase your silhouette so heading is easier. It's also a walking stick. And finally you can prod or give a tap to a cow to get it to move. Cows can be very stubborn when they've found a nice patch of grass so now and again a tap is necessary to get them to keep moving. It's also the safest way as going up to move it with your arms puts you in kick range of them.

@catsj1767

2 жыл бұрын

As long as they don’t wander into town by themselves. Follow Nora - her sister GiGi kept escaping to visit the neighbor farm herd this summer…

I'm glad The old Morgan came back, and just let them be to get acclimated to where they were. Realizing they were scared etc. Everything you said made sense. THAT was the Morgan I know ( hence The old Morgan) Morgan, it took me a month or so of patiently sitting on a 5 gallon bucket when I was presented with 2 male Donkeys wilder than a March Hare to approach me and learn to trust me and love me as I loved them. It didn't take long for Malcolm to become like a big puppy dog in every way, he now is a companion to an old mare and elderly lady down the road, Roy still lives with me, not a big puppy dog like Malcolm BUT I can pet and brush him him and rub his tummy and scratch his bum. And that's good enough for me.

Those cattle are so dang cute! I’m so proud of you Morgan👍

Well done changing your tactics with the cows. Temple is awesome. There is a great movie about her. Good luck gaining the cows trust.

Yay cows. There so cute

Morgan. This is going to be fun. As Greg Judy says in almost every one of his videos “Don’t do that”.

What I really appreciate about you and your farm is the fact that you use kindness and logic instead of hate and anger. Farming takes time (speaking as a farmers daughter) and in the end you will see that your kindness with giving your cattle the time to settle down and destress will give you so much more in return. Cows are lovely animals, very clever (and kinda dumb too but in the sweetest way) and will come to you if given the time. I send you all the best wishes and hopes for happy cows all the way from Denmark, so yeah, your lovely little farm in Vermont has reached far indeed

What a great"Flashback"!! Especially now that RMMS is the bull of the farm!! Congratulations Morgan, hopefully RMMS will make you a lot of babies!!!

I’m maybe 12 month ahead of you and recently sold my pair of highlands. For me, I didn’t have a perimeter fence and was keeping them in a couple of small 1 acre plots. Failure=learning so I sold them to a good herd and next step is a perimeter fence first. Love your transparency here!

Morgan, I don't know anything about rotational grazing but I do know cattle, I grew up with dairy cattle. Yes, you can "train" cattle to respect a live wire if it is hot enough but you're going to go through what you're going through. I've seen a dairy cow go through a welded steel fence with a hot wire on top, it maimed the cow but she got through it. To move cattle safely you need 2 "herders" not one. You can train a cow to go somewhere like dairy cows going to the barn but to do things they aren't used to you need a person or dog behind and to one side. Also why not just move the paddock so it is where the cattle want to be for the time being? If they want to be up in that top alley then put the fence up along the trees there and let them get comfortable being inside it there.

Great Lesson you're learning, Respect your animals and then in return, they will respect you. I think with time all will work out great and you will be able to contain them in a area you prefer. I know you will put in the hard work to make these beautiful highlands cows life a blessing to you and your farm.

Congrats on the cattle! They are beautiful. Also I love how real you are about learning from mistakes and growing and improving! Best of luck 👍🏿

Well put together video, one of your best. They are beautiful majestic creatures. I know they will eventually come to trust you just by how you take their nature into account. Looking forward to more videos on your cattle.

I'm glad to hear you're reading Temple Grandin, she'll be a wonderful resource for you! I think you're right to ditch the drone and ATV (and even to keep sweet Toby penned away from them) because cattle are notoriously skiddish. I suggest driving them by foot. This is the best way for them to learn who you are and to trust you. It is also the best way for you to inspect your animals for injury or other issues. It is also very zen. When I worked at a pastured dairy, we used walking sticks when we walked them because it helps extends your reach and steer them. Simply put that stick out at your side and you're all of a sudden bigger and they will go in the opposite direction. I love working with cattle. They're giant, nervous, dogs! Once you get over these hurdles you'll enjoy them too!

Congratulations on beginning to make your dream come true. Life is a wonderful learning curve and you're well equipped to deal with it. Your gut, caring feelings and the good advice you listen to, will make these Highland cattle docile and friendly. It will take time and patience. Although I know time is a premium with the Vermont winter quickly approaching. So I wish you luck and thank you for letting us come along for the ride.😘🤗💖

This video is a great example for why I follow your channel. Thank you. Please keep doing what you're doing.

Love your commitment to considering the quality of life the animals on your farm live.

You will have no chance to keep them in a single place with just a single wire. You need at least a double wire and a very very high voltage. My uncle has Highlanders during the summer, in the first year I had to help a few times bringing them back. He learned fast, and I hope you will too.

@bergerniklas6647

2 жыл бұрын

Now watching I realise you learn fast ^^

@ninjadogs3389

2 жыл бұрын

He should also use tposts instead of the weak little posts he is using.

@abyssstrider2547

2 жыл бұрын

@@ninjadogs3389 Well he made a fence for polutry. Not really designed for big animals.

@ninjadogs3389

2 жыл бұрын

@@abyssstrider2547 exactly, that fence could hold in maybe goats, but thats it, he needs proper wire and tposts so its sturdy enough to keep them.

@Ben-fk9ey

2 жыл бұрын

We and pretty much every farmer around me, (UK) use a single electric wire and those plastic fenceposts with a metal tip to them to strip graze with. Granted it's with dairy cows so maybe they're not as boisterous as the Highlanders but I think it's more of getti them used to the system than anything else. Also with the limited amount of cows he has I'm not sure how well a strip grazing method would even work in the first place. As to my understanding you use a strip grazing method to maximize the fresh grass a large dairy heard eats every day. As if you leave them the entire field they'll trample a lot of the grass going back and forth to the milking parlor. With the cows he's got that's not the case, they're permanently in the pasture so leaving them to roam to find the best grass to graze on themselves seems to be the best and least hassle approach. I might be mistaken but Harry's Farm on KZread did a segment about this.

So... I was just on a holiday in the North of Denmark and there were a whooole lot of beautiful pastures everywhere. As a wanderer, I was even able to simply enter and walk through them, all of that was allowed. There were tons of wild apple trees, plum trees, all sorts of berries. On those pastures the local farmers were grazing their sheep, horses and cattle. Seeing your video, I can't help but think that's basically how it was. The cattle were just wandering around on their own, very freely, eating what the land had to offer, climb up dunes, find shade between the trees. The animals were forming the land of those pastures and it was all simply utterly beautiful. And those animals were SO relaxed and looked simply amazing.

I loved this video. At first it seemed like it was a moving too slowly, but then I got into the narrative and found it compelling. I still can’t get over the beauty of the land. It’s like living in a little piece of paradise.

Learning is an adventure.

Congrats Morgan. A huge step in achieving the dream!

They're adorable and you've met your match.

I have the utmost respect for you as a farmer. Your integrity and character are something to strive for. Someday when I am older you will be one of our farming gurus lol.

Congrats on getting cattle!! (lots of love for Toby and the cats

Congratulations on reaching another one of your goals. Every week when I babysit my niece she loves your videos.. My little niece comment (5 yr old) "Are these cows the North A group and who are they chasing???" Just watched yesterday the disney film North Avenue Irregulars last night with her parents, today everyone is either a North A group or a bad mobster.😉

Your wife is so blessed to have a guy like you. What a guy!

JD Farmer has a hell of a lot of great practical basic advice ! Highlands also have a reputation for family oriented loyalty according to my dairyman uncle's friends. That fella and his wife rescued and now raises longhorns as a hobby (much bigger) and compare them temperamentally to the old heritage Scottish breed. Territorial, Very touchy about their calves, spooky but not afraid of a fight. Slow and Easy is the key ! Keep it Simple, Keep it Safe and YES use Bribery with sweet feed !!!

Omg . Yesssss . I love this breed of cattle . 😁😁😁😁😁😁

And this, Morgan, is exactly WHY I keep harping about infastructure. If you can get a few friends to come over tey can help you to get your cattle back by the barn. I agree with the getting to know part but not in 10 acres. I usually tried to do it in about 1-2 acres.

Wow! Beautiful Cattle! I love the way you have come to the conclusion to consider the animals perspective! Good job Morgan! It's going to be a challenge, but you're up for it!! 😉👍⚘❤

Oh wow, halfway through this video I was like those poor cows must be so stressed and then you changed your tack with them. You're such a decent human being for doing that and deciding to earn the animals trust. So much respect for you!!

If you're a loner like me getting new animals on the farm is like having new friends!