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Handling cattle
Handling cattle Behavioural characteristics of cattle Principles of cattle handling Handling in yards The attributes of a good stockhandler References Series: Agfact A0.1.2 Edition: First edition Last updated: 18 Feb 2005
The correct handling of cattle is a vital component of quality food production and good animal welfare. Handling cannot improve the basic product, but good handling will minimise product quality loss and lessen stress on animals. The basic elements of animal handling are the handler, the stock and the facilities. These elements are all interdependent. An understanding of these dependencies is essential for continued improvement in cattle handling. Research and practical observations have identified factors pertinent to each element. These are: Handler Desirable attributes for handlers are a positive attitude to stock; understanding of animal behaviour; the ability to recognise and interpret animal actions; and the allowing of sufficient time for operations. Livestock Livestock differ in their ease of handling due to factors including previous experiences, breed characteristics, sex and physiological state. Facilities Poorly designed or maintained facilities can lead to confusion and stress on cattle. There is a higher incidence of stress and injury to both stock and handlers in a poorly constructed facility. The basic element of design is to allow for good stock flow. The larger the facility and the more diverse the livestock history, the more important it is to correctly design the facility. This is equally true for saleyards, feedlots and abattoirs.
Handling cattle
To handle cattle correctly, an understanding of animal behaviour is essential. In fact, the greater the handler's knowledge of cattle behaviour, the better their ability to predict an animal's response. And the better the ability to predict animal responses, the quicker and easier the job and the lower the probability of injury to animals or people. Cattle, because of their size, strength, speed and potential for aggression, need to be handled thoughtfully and with confidence. The most important aspect of handling any livestock is to be able to recognise and interpret an animal's reactions. The beast's 'body language' will indicate its probable actions.
Cows with young calves can be very protective, so handling them in the presence of their mothers can be dangerous. Cattle, particularly Bos indicus breeds, do not like being singled out either in the paddock or in yards. They can become extremely agitated and aroused.
Instinctive behaviour
The usefulness of instinctive behaviour is that it is predicable and requires no training of the animals. The instinct to escape is helpful when handling cattle that are reared under extensive conditions and have little contact with people. With infrequently handled animals that are flighty and have less chance of learning the flow system of paddocks and yards, instinctive behaviour is used so that animals 'escape' to where you want them to be. To do this, the stockperson must learn the rules of position and movement. A person moving alongside animals at just the right moment can turn a mob exactly when needed, but someone positioned wrongly can cause havoc. Instinctive behaviour is also an important trait to consider when designing yards.
Learning/training
Cattle have good memories. Bos indicus cattle, in particular, can be taught to be mustered and worked through yards. Every time cattle are handled, therefore, it should fit into an overall training plan. Bos indicus cattle become accustomed to the way in which they are mustered and worked through yards. The best procedures for mustering each paddock and working stock in yards should be developed and adhered to. The best time to educate cattle is at weaning. This experience should also be made as pleasant as possible. Unfortunately, cattle have an aversion to many management procedures and they may show a reluctance or refusal to cooperate, for instance cows tossing their head when drenched orally.
Flight distance
Flight distance is an important concept in livestock handling. It can be described as a circle of safety around an animal.
When a person penetrates the flight zone, the animal moves away. A good stockhandler knows when to penetrate this zone and when to retreat so that the cattle move quietly in the desired direction. Cattle move most effectively if they can see the handler at all times. Attempting to drive animals by standing directly behind them is often not efficient because they turn and look at the handler. A beast is best driven when the handler is situated at a 4560 angle from a line perpendicular to an animal's shoulder. This same principle applies to driving mobs of cattle.
The flight distance varies with the tameness of the animal. The distance may be up to 200300 m for feral cattle, but for feedlot cattle it may be only 15 m. Very tame cattle are difficult to move because they no longer have a flight zone. If a handler shouts and excites cattle, this can enlarge the animals' flight zone.
Point of balance
Experienced stockhandlers use the point of balance of an animal to move it. Looking from a side view, this means behind the shoulder, and from in front, it is from the centre of the head.
When close to cattle, the stockhandler's position in relation to an animal's shoulder can affect which direction the animal will head. The line through the shoulder is the point of balance. If the stockhandler goes behind this line, the beast moves forward.
By moving towards the front of the animal, the beast will move backward or turn away. From the front, you can deflect cattle sideways by moving either side of an imaginary line drawn through the middle of the animal's length.
Mob movement
The principles of position and movement apply equally when moving mobs or when handling small numbers or individual animals. A mob of cattle has a collective flight zone around the group. When the handler penetrates the zone, the mob will move. When a mob is progressing in the right direction, the handler works on the edge of the flight zone. By alternately entering and retreating from the flight zone at the optimum position of 4560, the handler keeps the mob moving at the desired pace.
Mobs/gateways
Once a mob is moving through a gate, the handler should stay on the edge of the flight zone and only enter this zone if the cattle stop moving. A common mistake by handlers is to stay within the flight zone while the majority of the mob have no escape route. This inevitably leads to cattle turning back and breaking away from the mob as they seek an escape route other than the crowded gateway.
Head movement
Cattle look in the direction they are about to go. Good stockhandlers can predict which way a beast will turn by noting the position of its head. To turn a beast, stockhandlers should therefore position themselves to turn the animal's head. A good handler constantly watches the cattle in a mob and can anticipate any change in direction, or breakouts, by noting the head movement of the cattle at the lead and edges of the mob. The handler can therefore take appropriate action before problems occur.
Handling in yards
Cattle behaviour in yards
Cattle will normally run to a point of escape (often an entrance gate). They will also tend to circle the handler in yards and, therefore, run most consistently on the curve. Cattle tend to follow each other, and the sight of an animal in front helps keep movement flowing. They will, however, baulk or refuse to cross strong shadow stripes. This can inhibit progress through gateways and along races. Cattle also do not like to walk from a bright, sunlit area of the yard into a dark area such as a shed. The wrong placement of shade (shadow) can result in baulking, for instance when cattle are walking up a race. It is often difficult to move cattle from a large area directly to a small, confined area. For this reason, cattle yards are designed so that individual yards are gradually scaled down in size toward the working area/crush. When yarding stock from the paddock, cattle will enter the receiving yard more readily through a wide gateway if they can see space ahead of them.
Yard design
Cattle yards should be designed in a way which either uses the natural behaviour of cattle to advantage or which takes into account this natural behaviour. Unfortunately, this is often not the case and the working of cattle in poorly designed yards can add significantly to the difficulties and the duration of an operation. It also adds to the stress on both cattle and the stock handlers. The cladding of races, forcing yards and other strategic points in yards can make cattle flow more easily. Apart from obliterating distractions on the outside of the yard, this can offer directional signals to the animals.
Working direction
Cattle should be worked through, not backwards and forwards, in yards. If cattle learn to go in one end of the yard and out the other, they will work freely without having to be forced. Most beef producers have an established working procedure when working cattle in yards. The cattle soon learn this method and it has to be considered when carrying out procedures such as drafting. If cattle have learnt a system and this system is then changed, far more difficulties in handling cattle can be expected. For example, entering the yard from a different direction.
Drafting
When drafting cattle, there are several points to consider:
Cattle need to see an avenue of escape, as they tend to stop and turn if they approach a deadend. Do not put too many cattle in a yard as this will create insufficient room for cattle movement. (Yard should ideally be half-full.) There should not be too many handlers in the yard as this reduces room for cattle movement. Generally draft big from small animals, quiet from excitable animals (easier excitable animals will generally keep away from handlers). After drafting, don't leave single animals on their own as they can get very upset, particularly Bos indicus breeds.
Handling aids
The use of drafting canes and sticks can extend the distance of control over cattle as it effectively increases the length of the stockhandler's arm. Holding a cane in front of a beast's head will cause it to either stop or turn. Hitting an animal, though, is unnecessary and ineffective in moving animals in the right direction. Poking an animal which is already moving in the right direction is also unnecessary and dangerous as this can cause cattle to kick. Electric prodders, however, are a useful aid if used correctly. A prodder should not be used on an animal which has nowhere to go or is already moving in the right direction, such as animals at the back of the mob.
high personal risk. These include: working in close proximity to animals any situations like trucks and small yards increase this risk. handling of bulls, freshly calved cows, or isolated animals. working in substandard facilities trying to make do will always increase risks. working with too many animals overcrowding. using incorrect aids or using aids at the wrong time and place. poor communication between handlers perhaps too many handlers in the yard.
References
Gahan RJ & Johnston BD Handling Cattle from Farm to Ab attoir. Bulletin, NSW Agriculture, Orange Hurst RJ & Johnston (1986) Livestock Handling and Transport Study Tour Victoria, NSW Agriculture, Orange Holmes RJ (1984) Sheep and cattle Handling Skills - A Manual for New Zealand Conditions, Accident Compensation Corporation, Wellington Temple Grandin Livestock Psychology and Handling - Facility Design , www.grandin.com Temple Grandin Livestock Handling from Farm to Slaughter.
Author: Roy Hurst
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