The old way is to tie the tail straight up. It deadens the nerves in the back end and they can't kick.
I have never heard that! Does it work immediately? Or a delayed reaction?
I've grabbed/twisted quite a few tails in a loading chute trying to load a stubborn cow. Seems there's always one that doesn't want to get on the trailer. (or even worse, one near the front turns around in the chute and blocks the rest)
Funny, most folks don't know a cow kicks sideways. They can't kick backwards like a horse. Seen a few people learn that the hard way. Now donkey's are a different kettle of fish. They kick backwards like a horse but can get a sideways arc to their backward kicks... and deadly accurate!! They rarely miss.
Have to tell this... years ago I had several horses and donkeys. Had just gotten a gsd. I was out by the gate one afternoon and the critters came up to beg for apple slices. The dog didn't know what to think of big livestock. But a couple times she reached under a barbwire fence and nipped at the rear hoof of a horse. I scolded her but she couldn't help herself. Then one of the donkeys walked up. The dog reached under to nip... and learned that donkeys can see their rear hooves (unlike a horse).
The jack kicked the dog in the head, hard. The dog backed up and sat down trying to keep upright. I thought she was really hurt, it sounded like a baseball bat hitting something. The dog never messed with a donkey again... or a horse for that matter!! Was fine after a couple minutes, lesson learned though!
This is her, another great dog I miss, she had the fiercest heart of any animal I've ever been around. And off the charts smart! Her name was Ten, a working dog. She only knew german commands when I got her. I got tired of shouting 'Nein' (no), so I shouted nein, ten! It stuck...