Possible a "show stick", which I just read of in the late David Foster Wallace's books of essay's? Used to prod cattle, swine, horses on show at (in this case) state fairs.
Rick has the dubious honor of being the subject of a fab Wonder Stuff song "Astley In The Noose" and mentioned in the Nick Lowe song "All Men Are Liars" where his name is rhymed with "ghastly".
you put it on a young cow or foal. when it tries to get milk from it's mom, the mom gets poked and kicks the young one away. thereby weaning the young one. hence it's name, a metal weiner...(ok, i made that last part up)