This is our tried-and-true setup that works great for us! Once we wean our calves, we keep them in pens so we can easily move them into a smaller pen for halter training.
Using our heavy-duty gate setup, we can safely and securely slip the halters on.
You can use a cattle chute, but for us, this gate method works best. Just make sure your gate is sturdy, when you’re first starting out, calves can push pretty hard!
We also make sure the pen is completely enclosed with a solid back wall. This prevents calves from trying to stick their heads through slats or fences, which can be dangerous.
Halter fit is crucial! The halter should pull underneath the chin, not press down over the nose.
We check halters daily to be sure they aren’t too tight and still fit properly.
Here’s a tip you don’t want to forget: the lead rope should always be on your left side. If it’s on the right, it’s on wrong.
With patience, consistency, and the right setup, halter breaking calves can be a safe and stress-free process for you and your cattle.
While everyone has their own method, this is the way we’ve found works best for us. Usually, we run our cattle through a chute to remove and replace tags, but for this video, our sweet gal was calm while tied up—so she’s our model for the day! We use an ear tag removal knife—you can find these at most local feed stores or agricultural supply shops. They’re inexpensive, easy to use, and even double as a handy tool for cutting hay bale twine.
Step-by-step ear tag removal:
1️⃣ Go to the back of the cow’s ear and locate the back of the tag.
2️⃣ Hold your ear tag removal knife facing downward (just like any knife, always cut down—never up).
3️⃣ With one swift, firm motion, cut downward to slice through the back of the tag.
4️⃣ Remove the tag from the ear. Pro Tip: When re-tagging, always use the same hole to avoid creating unnecessary extra holes in the ear.
📌 Whether you raise miniature cattle, beef cattle, or dairy cows, this ear tag removal method is simple, safe, and effective.
When we’re halter breaking our calves, we always add in a little flagging to the process!
Using a flag is an easy and effective way to desensitize calves to touch. That way, when you go to handle, pet, or groom them, they’re already comfortable with human contact.
This builds trust and makes future handling so much safer. You don’t need anything fancy—pick up a flag at your local farm supply store, or do what I did and make one yourself with a feed sack!
One of the biggest benefits of flagging is around your calf’s legs and feet. If they kick, the flag takes the impact instead of you—keeping both you and your calves safe.
✅ Stay safe, build trust, and set your calves up for success this halter-breaking season!
Have you ever noticed your calves’ eyes looking goopy, red, and irritated? 👀
This is a common problem during the spring and summer months, and the culprit is usually flies! 🪰
Here at KOW Mini Cows, we deal with this every year, and one of our favorite ways to protect our calves is by using fly spray. It’s quick, easy, and super effective at keeping flies off their faces and out of their eyes.
But fly spray isn’t the only solution.
There are plenty of other fly prevention methods for calves and cattle, including:
✅ Fly masks – great for long-term protection
✅ Fly traps – reduce fly populations around your pasture
✅ Fly creams and ointments – protect sensitive areas
✅ Feed-through fly control – helps reduce flies from the inside out
We choose fly spray because it’s the fastest way to give instant relief to our calves, especially when we’re short on time during busy chore days.
If you’re a fellow mini cow owner or cattle farmer, keeping flies under control is an important part of calf health and herd management.
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