Page 213 - The Welfare of Cattle

190 the WeLfare of CattLe

intelligence and personal integrity that drive the tripartite practice of stewardship, husbandry, and
stockmanship. Specific to livestock management are five spires of decision-making—livestock
handling, breeding and genetics, nutrition, animal health, plus education and training that are fun-
damental to animal husbandry and stockmanship. An integrated management plan that focuses
on these five elements increases well-being of the enterprise as well as the humans and animals
involved.

Livestock handling

Attaining excellence in interacting with livestock is dependent on attitude, skill, and good facil-
ity design. Effective livestock handling is predicated on the desire of the handler to create a positive
outcome by working with the natural behavior of animals to create desired movement of individu-
als or herds. An attitude of patience and empathy is foundational to good handling. Good handling
techniques can be learned but they can only be implemented with good leadership. For example,
if employees are unnecessarily stressed by unrealistic expectations and deadlines, poor working
conditions, or a lack of resources; poor handling is likely to occur. If the handlers are under undue
pressure they will likely transfer that stress to the livestock under their care. Thus, good livestock
handling depends on quality care of the people who are expected to do the work.
Development of handling skills and facilities depends on an awareness of specific behavioral
tendencies. For example, cattle…

• Don’t handle complexity and have poor depth perception
• Prefer to stay and move with other cattle
• Are prey animals so keeping the handler within sight reduces stress
• Tend to move around the handler in a circular fashion
• Respond to pressure

Given the aforementioned behaviors, the great enemies of good handling are excessive stress and
speed coupled with impatience. Whether moving a herd of cattle from one pasture to another,
sorting cattle in an alleyway, or vaccinating a set of calves; handlers that recognize the value of
slowing down, maintaining quiet and calm, and reducing stress are most likely going to achieve
their objectives most efficiently.
Good handling technique can overcome facility limitations in many cases but when the infra-
structure has been correctly designed then harmonious interactions between humans and livestock
can be achieved. The work of experts such as Temple Grandin, Bud Williams, Anne Burkholder, and
Curt Pate have demonstrated the power of good handling technique coupled with excellent facility
design. While these thought leaders may have differences of opinion, their combined wisdom and
example have changed ranching for the better. A ranch environment without a deep understand-
ing of animal behavior manifested in the intentional design of handling systems and techniques to
improve the well-being of both livestock and people will not be healthy. Stockmanship practiced
correctly creates positive interactions between livestock and humans—cattle and their handlers
learn to move in concert at a comfortable pace and without duress. Observing a master stockman at
work provides an experience akin to attending a great ballet—movement is graceful, effortless, and
intentional and in the moment time slows and a state of harmony is achieved.
But not all production practices are perfect and the decision to retain or discontinue them
requires a thoughtful approach to the trade-offs involved. Branding is a practice used to create a
permanent identification mark to help deter livestock theft and to facilitate sorting cattle from mul-
tiple ranches into correct ownership groups should herds become mixed. Branding is not a perfect
practice as it induces stress onto an animal and permanently damages the hide—the most valuable