1. Cattle Behavior

2. Cattle handling behavior
understanding cattle behavior can reduce livestock stress during handling
stress may reduce conception rate
stress may cause immune suppression
rough handling may cause bruising
anticipation of normal behavioral responses during handling improves handler and animal safety

3. Vision in cattle cattle have excellent wide angle vision
poor depth perception may result in balking at shadows
Brahmans may hold head higher due to heavy skin fold over brow

4. Hearing in cattle
cattle are more sensitive to high frequency noises than humans
loud noises may distress cattle

5. Moving Cattle
cattle tend to move towards light if not glaring or blinding
may balk at puddles, drain grates
may balk at changes in floor texture or level
shadows discourage movement

6. Moving cattle cattle may balk at clanking metal in chutes
moving or flapping objects may spook cattle
objects in runway, race, chute may causing balking

7. Moving cattle
people standing in front of the squeeze chute discourages cattle movement
objects such as chains hanging within the working area may cause cattle to balk

8. Encouraging cattle movement
plastic strips attached to a stick - cattle tend to move away from noise and movement
cattle will move more easily toward home pasture or pen

9. Encouraging cattle movement
dogs - only utilize in open areas or pastures
electric prod - LAST RESORT!!

10. Flight zone
“flight zone” = cow personal space

11. Flight zone when flight zone entered, cattle move away
when zone is exited, cattle stop moving and may turn to face handler or predator

12. Flight zone
in handling areas it is important not to invade flight zone too deeply as cattle may attempt to move backwards
occasionally cattle will rear up in a single file chute if handler approaches too closely
in either case, backing out of flight zone should terminate escape behavior

13. “Companion” cattle may be difficult to work
have little or no flight zone
may be dangerous during feeding or if seeking attention

14. Herding behavior cattle follow the leader
like to maintain visual contact with each other
do not like to be isolated from herd mates - can be a dangerous situation for the handler

15. Breed variations Brahmans & their crosses tend to be more excitable
variations in personalities in Bos taurus breeds, also
Angus - excitable
Herefords - quiet
Chianina - nervous/jump fences

16. Handling facility design

17. Handling facility design
solid fences in working areas reduce distractions
cattle should only see one way to escape
should be able to see cattle in front of them
utilize “point of balance”

18. Handling facility design
loading ramps should have solid sides
maximum incline of ramp = 20o

19. Individual animal behavior
be cautious of bulls in pasture - best to respect rather than fear them
newly arrived cattle that are agitated are allowed to acclimate overnight in clinic when possible

20. Individual animal handling
cattle catch on to routine readily, may need to alter tactics used to move them from pen to treatment area
brushing tends to calm cattle (bulls esp.)
food rewards offered after treatment - “conditioned response”
avoid blind spot directly behind animal, may be kicked

21. Working cattle in the stall

22. Rodeo bull charging stall gate

23. Conditioned responses

24. Handling facilities at LSU

25. Handling facilities at LSU

26. Handling facilities at LSU

27. Stimulating forward movement

28. “Last ditch effort”

29. Defense mechanisms head butting kicking
Brahman influence cows have been known to bite if protecting calves

30. Defense mechanisms cattle with horns tend to be more aggressive
it is best if all cattle in a group are either horned or dehorned

31. Show cattle show cattle tend to be fairly well behaved
seem to respect children more than adults

32. Brahman behavior Brahman cows may be very protective of calves
may attempt to bite
seem to possess good memory, very intelligent

33. Brahman behavior bulls often are quite tame
enjoy being scratched and will seek attention

34. Cattle and dogs
well-trained dogs can be very useful when working cattle
cattle may charge if dog enters flight zone, especially a cow with a calf
dogs may be useful if attempting to get a “down” cow up

35. Do not try this at home!

36. Or this either!