Managing cattle with reduced stress

Stress is a big factor contributing to beef product merit and many diseases which affect cattle. The stress related to extreme weather conditions most often cannot be avoided. However, how cattle are handled, either when processing, vaccinating or even clipping in preparation for a show, can cause undue stress, which can lead to illness and decreased meat quality. Therefore, proper handling, shelter and transportation are important to the safety and welfare of beef production. Facility design, preparation and the right attitude are big steps toward proper cattle handling.

Facility Design

A good facility has been described as being horse high, bull strong and hog tight. You need to keep this in mind as you begin plans and material preparation for constructing new working facilities.

The facility needs to be designed so cattle can be easily driven. Design alleys and working pens so animals can be sorted easily before and after processing. The corral should facilitate the movement of cattle from a large area into smaller pens and working alleys and into the crowding alley. Avoid corners where cattle will balk, and pay attention to the placement of gates. A curved crowding alley is highly recommended so that animals won’t balk from seeing a dead end. The installation of solid sides on the crowding pen and crowding alley will keep the animal from being distracted or spooked by people and objects on the outside. Blinders on squeeze chutes and solid sides on AI chutes will also help keep the animals calm during processing.

Eliminate hazards in the facilities that will cause injury to animals and humans. Projections and sharp edges on gates and fences can cut and bruise animals. To help prevent injury, floors in the working area should not have a slippery surface. Eliminate openings where animals might entrap a foot or their head.

Unnecessary noise in the working area provides for a very distracting atmosphere for cattle being processed and will cause undue stress. Muffle the sound of banging gates and crashing chutes with rubber or plastic stoppers. Barking dogs or screaming humans will excite and stress animals and simply need to be controlled. Maintain the facility. Make sure hinges, latches and other mechanisms are in good repair and are properly lubricated.

Working Environment

When jobs are done efficiently in a calm and controlled manner, the task will be completed in a satisfactory time frame. Working with a good attitude positively affects other workers and can be transferred to the cattle being processed. And remember livestock are herd animals. Understanding the importance of lead animals can help cattle flow in crowding alleys more efficiently.

As a handler moves into the flight zone of an animal, it will move away. If a handler moves too deeply into the animal’s flight zone, it will either bolt and run away or turn back and run past. Working in proper position will minimize stress on the animal and the possibility of injury to the handler.

Isolated animals will often panic and become very difficult to control. If an animal gets isolated from the group and is out of control, move some quiet animals in with it and give them some time to settle down. All too often, handlers will shock or prod the animal in the back of the crowding alley and wonder why the animal in the front does not move forward. When facilities are well designed and handling techniques are based on an understanding of animal behavior, it is not necessary to stress or bruise the animals as they move through the working facilities. Use a flag on the end of a prod to sort cattle. This technique is more effective and less stressful.

Many handlers make the mistake of packing too many animals into a crowding pen. As a result, the animals are not able to turn to line up and move forward. Work the animals in smaller groups of six to eight to allow for more room. This also helps alleviate stress during processing.

Avoid working cattle in stressful weather. On hot days, early morning hours are best. Cattle can also be stressed by cold spells, particularly when they have a wet hair coat.

Working cattle in dusty conditions is an invitation to respiratory illness.

Sudden changes in the ration or keeping cattle off of feed for extended periods while they are being worked or transported can cause acidosis.

Weaning is a very stressful period. Work calves several weeks prior to weaning to help avoid weaned stress.

Conclusion

Beef cattle are produced in a variety of production settings, from pasture and range to dry lot and confinement facilities. Cattle are adaptable to a wide range of natural conditions and artificial environments. When behavioral and physiological characteristics of cattle are matched to local conditions and proper facilities and handling techniques are incorporated, undue stress causing illness or reduced beef quality can be avoided.

Source: Bryan Kutz, Instructor

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