Have you ever noticed how some cows have learned the “limbo?” When electric fences are strung around cornstalks in the fall so cattle can feed on the stalks, observe. There are always one or two old gals that can get down on their knees and stretch their neck out beneath the wire nearly to their backs. They will stick their tongue out to grasp that elusive grass you would swear was beyond their reach. The same cow would not cross an electric wire you have let down for her to step over. She fears she will get a shock. But – she has no Escort fear of getting a shock by stretching under the fence. Go figure!

Back when we had Hereford bulls, we penned a couple up in a pen that consisted of only electric fencing. During the period they were enclosed in this pen, they would push one another against the wire at times. Of course, this taught them that the wire would shock. They developed such a respect for that wire that when it was taken down, we had a dickens of a time getting them to cross the line where the wire had been. ypjzdqr0909 Another bull we had was actually quite cooperative. We were checking fence one day and spotted the old bugger off on a hill in the neighbor's pasture. We went ahead finishing what we were doing, planning to go get him when finished. Much to our surprise, he meandered down the hill and came to stand beside us waiting for us to make a “let-down” to let him back into our pasture.

As you well know this is not common behavior for a straying animal. No – they are far more apt to let you get the fence down in the vicinity where you hope to get them back through only to have them trot a quarter mile farther down the fence. Last summer, a neighbor had a bull that, more or less, made his home in Escort our herd. It was not for lack of trying. Neighbor came after the bull umpteen times. The visiting bull was gathered and taken home to be moved elsewhere. His challenger went around mumbling as bulls do then one day he was gone. He had crossed over into his adversary's old domain. Did he miss him? In the old days when nearly every place had a few cows, at least one would be what was called “breachy.” This was simply a cow that crawled through fences. Various means were used to keep such a critter where she belonged. A type of collar might be placed around her neck with an extension, top and bottom, to catch on the wires preventing her escape. My folks never used one and I don't think they were very successful for anyone.

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