Animal Psychology and Livestock Handling Techniques

1
Animal Psychology and Livestock Handling
Techniques

• Dr. Fred Rayfield
• South Region Livestock Specialist
• Georgia Agriculture Education

To accompany Georgia Agriculture Education
Curriculum Lesson 014323.6 July 2002
2
Economic Impact

• 100 million annually in the beef packing
  industry.
• Shipping Fever 500 million annually
• If the beef industry could cut death loss by 50
  it would represent a saving of 39 million
  dollars annually.
• Stress is a major cause of death and carcass loss.

3
Attitude is Important

• Positive Attitude in Handling Livestock
• I am going to let the animal do what I want Vs. I
  am going to make the animal do what I want.
• That sorry ?!?! went the wrong way. Vs.
  What did I do to cause the animal to react that
  way?

4
Flight or Pressure Zone

• The boundary which indicates to the animal that
  you are too close
• Inside the zone produces activity and movement.
• Outside the zone stops or slows down movement and
  activity.
• These zones must be identified early!!

5
Approaching Cattle

• Never approach head on.
• Initial approach in the pressure zone should be
  cautious and observant.
• Do not approach directly behind
• Do not follow too far behind them.
• Cattle have a blind spot directly behind them and
  have poor depth perception.

6
Handling Secrets

• Approach pressure zone at an angle.
• Position your self to the side of the animal
  avoid the blind spot.
• Move close enough for the animal to see you.
• Use a back and forth pressure technique.
• Walk in straight lines not curves.

7
Handling Secrets

• Keep animals in the direction you want.
• Increase and decrease pressure to encourage
  movement.
• Let animals move in the direction they are headed
  and follow other animals if possible.
• When applying pressure work toward the front or
  the head.

8
Handling Secrets

• When pressuring a group pressure the front
  animals.
• Stay quiet when pressuring or moving animals.
• Moving parallel to livestock will slow them down
• Work in a T - design to the direction you are
  headed.

9
Livestock Facility Tips

• All working facilities should be planned and well
  organized.
• Lighting should be even and constant. No harsh
  contrasts of light.
• Eliminate shadows
• Noise reduction. Rubber stops and sliding gates.

10
Livestock Facility Tips

• Design chutes either working or loading to be
  single file.
• Keep floor level or texture consistent.
• Reduce all foreign or moving objects from the
  working area.
• Create shields or blinds for workers to stand
  behind.

11
Livestock Facility Tips

• Locate drains and metal grates outside working
  area.
• Working alleys need to have solid sides. The
  animal should see only one way out. Cut gates
  should be see through.
• Concrete surfaces should be deeply grooved and
  level to prevent slippage.
• Curved chutes work better than straight.

12
Livestock Handling Tips

• Position a walkway beside of and outside the pens
  and chutes for workers to facilitate movement.

13
Livestock Wisdom

• Animals have very little patience you should have
  more.
• Stress is a major contributor to economic losses.
• All animals are potentially dangerous. For every
  livestock death there are 400 disabling injuries.

14
Livestock Wisdom

• Allow the animal to do what you want it to do.
• Always strive to design facilities and
  environments that reduce stress.
• Animals have a memory and they do remember.
• Common sense is a wonderful livestock working
  tool when used wisely.