Macwards Highland Cows

Macwards Highland Cows Macwards highland cows is a boutique fold of quality highland cows.

Took some nice pics of Blair of macwards Omg she is so gorgeous FIB embryo heifer Strathburn Fold
26/05/2026

Took some nice pics of Blair of macwards Omg she is so gorgeous FIB embryo heifer Strathburn Fold

Our silver bull calf filling out nicely so proud of him
23/05/2026

Our silver bull calf filling out nicely so proud of him

Bull calves this morning
23/05/2026

Bull calves this morning

Blair of Macwards our strathburn fold embryo heifer calf
23/05/2026

Blair of Macwards our strathburn fold embryo heifer calf

Today was a big day for us at Macwards, delivering our two bull calves to their new home 🤎 Watching their new owners bur...
10/04/2026

Today was a big day for us at Macwards, delivering our two bull calves to their new home 🤎 Watching their new owners burst into tears with joy is something we’ll never forget. To then receive a message saying the boys walked straight up to them within the first 5 minutes, calm and gentle, is exactly why we do what we do.

At Macwards, temperament is everything to us. It’s not by chance — it’s the result of careful bloodline selection, a lot of research, and our core belief in training for trust, not submission. Seeing that trust carry over into their new home so quickly is the greatest reward.

09/04/2026

Training Video #21

Desensitising with the ropes

Here we are desensitising the red bull calf to the ropes. I’m flapping the ropes around his legs, ears, and horns, as well as swinging the lead rope and tapping it on the ground. I also wrap the rope gently around his neck and apply a small amount of pressure so he can feel weight behind it. We swing the rope around the legs as well to build acceptance in those lower-pressure zones.

This is not something we introduce at the start of training. If done too early, it can create fear and lead to unwanted behaviours. Instead, we build up to this gradually, introducing it in small amounts over time.

Through earlier stages—halter introduction, lead training, hard tying, and removing/reapplying the halter—we are already building awareness and acceptance of the ropes. This allows us to progress to more active desensitising like you see here, including working more around the head with increased movement.

If you refer back to Training Video #13, you’ll see a softer version of this process. In that stage, I work from further away and keep everything slow and gentle. As the animal’s confidence grows, we can increase the intensity while still maintaining calmness and trust.

02/04/2026

Training Video #20

Lead Training

Here the red bull is learning to move his feet under halter pressure and release

We always start with the criss-cross method, working in circles. As they begin to understand how to step off that pressure, we gradually make the circles larger until we can guide them into a straight line.

If they dig their feet in and brace, don’t try to out-pull them. Instead, go straight back to the criss-cross method. This shifts their weight and encourages a sideways step. Repeat this process consistently.

Straight lines don’t work well in the early stages unless you’re prepared to use significant pressure on the poll and nose/chin via the halter—and that turns into a battle.

Cattle learn very quickly. If they brace, stop, and “win,” they’ll keep doing it. But if you consistently move their feet using the criss-cross method, they learn that it’s far easier to walk forward and lead willingly.

02/04/2026

Training Video #19

Hard Tying

This is the last thing we teach — not the first.

Hard tying can be dangerous for both the cow and the handler if attempted before the animal understands pressure and release. If a cow hasn’t been properly educated through the earlier stages — from the show stick, to the brush, to hands-on work — they won’t understand how to respond to pressure.

From the very beginning, we teach that pressure doesn’t go away until the feet stop moving. That foundation is what creates a calm, thinking animal when it comes time to hard tie.

Without that foundation, when a cow pulls back while tied, they will panic and thrash. They don’t understand the pressure, and the more they fight, the more pressure they feel — which escalates quickly and can result in serious injury, or worse.

At Macwards, we train slowly and consistently, allowing each animal to progress at their own pace. We only move to the next stage when they are mentally ready.

In this video, you can see this cow is relaxed. He’s still figuring things out, but he’s not reactive. He feels the pressure, understands it, and stays calm because he knows the release will come.

That’s why hard tying is one of the final steps in our halter training process.

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Bridgetown, WA
6256

Telephone

+61448579400

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