It's October, calves will be coming home soon and heading either to market or to a backgrounding program. Whether you're selling at an auction or direct from the farm, or putting those calves into a backgrounding program; there are a few things to keep in mind.
Check your calves once more before marketing. Be certain that you have not missed any horns and all animals have been properly castrated. Make sure your handling system is in good condition and working order before you run the cattle in! Remember to be safe when handling cattle and have a plan before you go out to work them.
Each animal, just like each of us, has its own personality built on genetics and previous life experiences! Aggression and stress in livestock can be triggered by the handler yelling, whistling, using erratic movements or waving their arms. Lighting, new and unfamiliar surroundings, enclosed spaces, restraint and ground conditions are also critical factors in triggering natural fear and flight responses. Low stress and safe handling is achieved by understanding and training your livestock to do what you want them to do - rather than you reacting to what they want to do.
Herding is a natural instinct of cattle. Herding offers safety from predators and gives shelter. Remember, to cattle and other livestock, you appear to them as a predator. Staying in a group offers safety from what you may ask them to do. Singling out a cow or calf, challenges this natural instinct. Be aware of this when moving animals. If an animal must be separated from the herd, limit the amount of time that animal is alone, and keep the herd nearby. Move the animal slowly and with minimal noise.
The flight zone is considered the safe, personal space of the animal, if you're going to enter that flight zone then you better be prepared. Cattle have a tendency to move away from you as you enter their flight zone. Understanding the flight zone can come in handy when moving cattle. If you penetrate the zone too deeply cattle will bolt and the chase is on. Proper use of the zone will allow you to move cattle in the direction which you want them to go.
Bud Williams and Dr. Temple Grandin are undoubtedly the masters of animal handling and if you've looked into the subject, you've most certainly run across their names. Their principles and practices of low stress handling have been far reaching. Low stress handling means more jingle in your jeans and profit can be a powerful motivator. So this fall keep safe and make a few extra bucks by practicing low stress animal handling.
For more information on this, or other related livestock topics, contact Jenifer Heyden at 306-446-7962 or the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
