Page 162 - The Welfare of Cattle

ChaPter 13

Optimal human animal Interactions
for Improving Cattle handling

Temple Grandin
Colorado State University

CONteNtS

Improvements in Handling and Numerical Scoring ...................................................................... 139
Tracking Improvements in Handling ............................................................................................. 140
Do Not Understaff and Overwork .................................................................................................. 142
Improve the Professional Status of Stock People .......................................................................... 142
Animals Remember Bad Experiences and Have Specific Memories ............................................ 142
Acclimate Animals to Handling ..................................................................................................... 143
Understanding Behavioral Principles............................................................................................. 143
Two Zones around Cattle ...............................................................................................................144
Never Use an Electric Prod as the Primary Driving Tool ..............................................................144
Principles of Pressure and Release ................................................................................................ 145
Steps for Managers to Take to Improve Welfare During Cattle Handling ..................................... 145
References ...................................................................................................................................... 146

To have good animal welfare during handling for vaccinations, truck loading, milking, moving
between pastures or movement through a slaughter plant REQUIRES management who is commit-
ted to maintaining high standards. Too often people want the new state-of-the-art facility but they
do not have the management commitment to make it work right. I have a saying, “People want the
thing more than they want the management.” Equipment is only half the equation and the attitude
of either the producer who owns a ranch or the manager of a large operation will determine how
animals are treated during handling. If you had a choice between two different cattle operations,
which one would you choose? The first ranch has state-of-the-art equipment, and a poor manage-
ment or a ranch with older adequate facilities and excellent management. I will choose the one with
the excellent manager.

IMPrOVeMeNtS IN haNDLING aND NUMerICaL SCOrING

During a career that spans over 40 years I have seen many improvements in cattle handling
at both slaughter plants and in large feedlots. A major driver of this change has been pressure

139