A Low-Stress Way to Handle Cattle
Understanding that cattle feel like prey when their handlers act like predators can foster lower-stress handling.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (Feb. 2, 2005) — During the Feb. 2 Cattlemen’s College in San Antonio, Tom Noffsinger and Lynn Locatelli of Twin Forks Clinic Inc., Benkelman, Neb., discussed a low-stress method of cattle handling learned from Bud Williams. The method stresses the importance of understanding to a higher degree the animals you work with and is based on understanding that cattle have very strong prey instincts, which are at odds with the predatorial instincts of most people. The handling method they described builds trust between people and cattle, which allows for less stress and eases observation of illness.
In a predator-prey relationship, the prey must conceal its weakness, because that’s how the predator chooses its victim, the speakers explained. When handled by those they consider to be predators, cattle will hide their illnesses or injuries, leading to higher mortality rates and less-effective treatments due to later recognition of problems. Cattle also seek safety in numbers and find confinement to be threatening. Finally, their sensitivity and awareness are what keep prey animals alive, so cattle will notice even tiny events and items in their area.
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Tom Noffsinger, Twin Forks Clinic, Inc. |
Noffsinger and Locatelli encouraged cattlemen to avoid their instincts and use a pressure-and-release method of handling. Gently apply pressure. Then, as soon as the animal responds, release the pressure, they advised. For example, as a cattleman walks toward an animal, he should step back as soon as the animal moves. This leads to trust on the animal’s part and eases further human/animal interaction.
The speakers applied the predator-prey relationship to other parts of handling, such as changing direction, processing, acclimating cattle to new situations and treating illnesses. Above all, people must forgo their predatorial instincts and “develop communication between themselves and the cattle,” Noffsinger said.
— by Brooke Byrd, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.
© Copyright 2005 Angus Productions Inc.
Editor’s Note: This article was written under contract or by staff of Angus Productions Inc. (API), which claims copyright to this article. It may not be published or distributed without the express permission of Angus Productions Inc. To request reprint permission and guidelines, contact Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, at (816) 383-5270 or shermel@angusjournal.com.
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