Handling and treating cattle are key aspects of ranching, whether managing a small family herd or running a large-scale operation. The way you handle cattle affects their well-being, performance, and even the prices they bring at auction. This is why learning how to properly handle and treat your herd using low-stress principles and proper cattle handling equipment is critical. A stressed herd can lead to increased injury risks, reduced weight gain, and lower meat quality.
The right techniques paired with cattle equipment designed to work with cattle, not against them, will lead to a smooth, efficient, and profitable ranch.
Understanding low-stress cattle handling
Low-stress cattle handling is all about working with a cow’s instincts rather than against them. As prey animals, cattle are always aware and ready to flee the second they feel threatened or pressured. By understanding their field of vision, pressure zones, and movement patterns, you can move cattle more efficiently with minimal stress to both you and your livestock.
In order to move cattle with as little stress as possible, there are a few things you must keep in mind — one being to move cattle at a natural pace. Pushing them too hard and quickly increases panic and resistance, leading to more frustration, escalating the situation, and increasing the chances of injury.
Not only do you want to move them at a slower pace, but it’s also important to understand their flight zones and points of balance. This will allow you to guide movements without triggering fear-based reactions from your cattle, such as kicking, bucking, or charging toward you. It’s also important to remember that loud noises and sudden movements can scare cattle, making them more difficult to handle. That’s why keeping the environment calm and as quiet as possible is crucial. Additionally, if the environment is calm before cattle enter your handling system, they’re more likely to stay calm once caught. When cattle feel comfortable and safe in their environment, they will be much easier to handle.
The role of cattle handling equipment to reduce stress
Even with the best cattle handling techniques, equipment plays a critical role in creating a low-stress environment. Outdated and poorly designed equipment can cause unnecessary stress, increase injury chances, and slow processing time. That’s why it’s just as important to invest in cattle handling equipment designed to prioritize efficiency, safety, and animal well-being.
When it comes to cattle chutes and other handling equipment, one thing to consider is the amount of noise it makes when being used. Looking for a cattle chute specifically designed for a quiet operation will ensure your cattle stay calm in the chute as you open and close different access points to reach the animal. For example, the Arrowlock 88 Series cattle chute is designed with over 88 quiet points, including poly-coated slam latches and rubber-mounted pivot points.
While many can design and manufacture cattle chutes, not everyone designs them with animal behavior in mind. When looking at a cattle chute to purchase, it’s important to consider the functions for yourself, but you should also think about it from your cattle’s perspective. Look at things such as the floor type in the cattle chute. Like you, cattle want to feel secure and confident on the surface they’re walking on. If your livestock feels unsteady when walking, it can lead to panic and hesitation to move through your handling system. That’s why finding a cattle chute with non-slip flooring, such as a rubber or steel floor with traction, is important.
Ensuring smooth, consistent cattle flow through your system will save you lots of time for other important tasks that need to be done around the ranch. Sudden stops and areas that are too narrow in your cattle handling system can create frustration and resistance for all involved. That’s why you want to choose equipment that has been designed from your and your cattle’s perspective. For example, Arrowquip’s extensive lineup of both manual and hydraulic cattle chutes has been created using what is known as the 3E (Easy Entry and Exit) concept.
One thing you need to remember is that cattle want to see light, which is why Arrowquip has designed their cattle chutes to encourage plenty of light. This invites cattle in, creating better and more efficient flow through the system, which allows you to process cattle in no time. Examples include a barred head gate, a slotted rear rolling door paired with open rails, and open-railed access panels along the side. This is also incorporated into other equipment, such as the cattle tubs with low sheeting paired with open rails and the Easy Flow Elite Cattle Alleys with optional blinder panels.
Low-stress cattle handling is a balance between technique and the right equipment, you can’t have one without the other and expect your operation to run efficiently. By investing in handling equipment that prioritizes a quiet operation, features that help cattle feel safe, and efficient cattle flow while also learning the principles of low-stress handling, you can significantly reduce stress for yourself and your herd. This will lead to fewer injuries, faster processing times, and a more profitable operation overall because everyone wins when cattle handling is as low-stress as possible.
