Farm Animal Handling and Restraint

1. Farm Animal Handling and Restraint Intro to Vet Tech Ann Barr Instructor

3. Overview • Talk about your variety you’ll find it here • Range from the easiest to the most difficult to handle • This is mostly mental so your physical person stays out of harms way • Understanding how to keep animals calm and how they are likely to behave should they become excited are keys to save and effective restraint

4. Big Big and Little Little

5. Horses • Equipment – • Halter – sturdy functional and in good condition • lead rope for control and guide • Chain shank added distraction during procedure by passing chain through the rings across nose or along the upper gum sg p84 fig49 • Lip twitch works by stimulating nerves if applied correctly is humane for brief restraint sg p85 fig 50 • Hobble leather strap fastened around legs restricts movement sg p 86 fig 51 • Stock narrow enclosure partially immobilizes horse • blindfold may calm frightened or unmanageable horse • Cross tying restricts side to side movement sgp 95 fig 58

7. Approaching a horse • Horses can’t see what’s directly in front or directly behind them(sg p86 figure 52) • Make sure that you are seen and heard by the horse, speak softly to reassure and sooth • Well developed nervous system easily startled and frightened, sleep standing up maybe napping • Horses and ponys can be TEMPERAMENTAL, if you let them • Always approach from the left side near the head or neck and watch body language • Once near the horse pat it on the neck or shoulder and continue to speak softly they like a good scratch behind the ears too

8. Capturing a horse • In the field or pen approach slowly be sure your heard and seen • You may want to hide the lead rope since it may cause them to avoid the capture • Always watch for signs of fear or aggression • if none place the lead over the horses neck put halter on and lead horse away sg p 88 fig 53A 53B and 53 C • If horse resists tug on rope around neck if this fails best to try again rather than risk injury of horse of self • You may need a smaller work area and a bucket of grain to tempt the horse closer

10. Restraint Techniques • Horses are strong and can be tempramental • Try to use the least possible restraint to keep animal calm • If you must pass behind the horse give yourself at least 12 feet or be as close as possible to lessen the chances of injury • Horses kick 6-8 ft strait back • Horses tend to move away from handler so all parties should be on the same side of the horse • Don’t stand directly in front of the horse as they may rear or strike with the front legs • Head restraint and distraction techniques are key to horse restraint

11. Halter and lead application • Placement of the halter follow steps in study guide p 90-91 • Leading a horse never just by the halter and always from the left side • Stay at the horses head and shoulder area • Always keep lead in front of your body • Never wrap the lead around any of your body parts or hold it in your teeth

13. Chain shank • Lead rope with 2 ft of chain and snap hook at the end • Used for distraction in several ways • 1 place chain down cheek ring of halter then across bridge of nose and attach snap to other cheek ring • 2 pass chain same as above chain goes under upper lip between teeth and gum sg p 94 • Both these methods keep the horses attention • Light tension should be used because delicate tissues

15. Twitches • Two person operation one to hold lead other to apply twitch • Follow steps on sg p92-93 for application • Always remember to change the pressure as steady pressure will make the lip numb and twitch ineffective • Bottom lip can be used as last resort • Never apply to the ear

18. Cross tying • Usually in stall or barn area permenant placement sg p 95 • Prevents horse from turning around • Horse can’t rear up or entangle itself • Great all around use lends itself to grooming, clipping and bathing, shoeing and minor procedures • If not permanently attached always use quick release knots

20. Quick release knot

21. Tail tying • Mostly used to keep tail out of way for procedures • Never tie the end of the rope to a fixed object • Only attach the tail to animals own body • Follow steps on page 95 and 96 in the study guide • Knots are good to know and fun to practice • Definitely a must for large animals

22. Picking up a horses foot • Study guide p 96 through 100 • You can get a horse to stand still sometimes by picking up a foot • You also pick up a foot to examine its hooves • Technique is different from front to back • This does not work in the cow they are wired differently as you will quickly find out • Always stay close to the body and keep your hands on the horse at all times • Handler always stay on the same side as the examiner

23. foals • Young horses under one year of age • Like to hide behind MAMA • Best approached in a small enclosure • Encircle the whole body with both arms • You can grasp the base of the tail after you have encircled your arms • Direct the foal toward a wall • An watch out for MAMA as she can get upset

27. Cattle handling and restraint • These animals are not at all like horses • Assist with beef and/or dairy cattle • Beef are more difficult because of limited interaction with humans • In either case you must be careful as these animals are extremely large and improper restraint could cause serious injury • They will walk up over the hood of a new pickup truck if it gets between where they are and where they want to go

29. Approach and capture • Cattle tend to be less fearful than horses • Some animals are indifferent to approach then quickly attempt to escape as you get closer • Observe the animals body language and stay out of its intended escape route (even if your in a pickup) • Cattle don’t lead well and sometimes refuse to budge • They are herd animals and may not want to leave the bunch urge them by voice and gently prodding • Don’t panic the herd cause you got trouble

31. Equipment • Cattle chute alleyway just big enough for a single cow at the end is a gate closed after the cow enters the front of the chute has an opening that holds the cows head called a stanchion (sg p 102) • Halter resembles a horse halter you can make a halter with a rope as demonstrated on page 103 and 104

33. Nose lead Hobbles Tail Jack sg p 106 Tail tying sg p108 Casting rope sg p109-111

34. Calf handling and restraint • Separate from MAMA (that darn MAMA again) • Cows are very protective of their calves • You can encircle the calf with your arms then lift • Larger calves are handled with a halter and lead rope or calf cart

35. The Calf Cart …. wee!!!!!

37. Sheep handling and restraint • The most timid domestic animal it has no natural defenses only to run away they don’t bite or kick and are not used to handling • Sheep have a very fragile skeletal system and thin skin restraint consists of holding in a position with out harm • Shepherds crook can immobilize an individual animal

39. EquipmentShepherds crook and lounge chair

40. Approach and capture of sheep and lambs • Usually reside in field as open flock • Good dog is a real asset to gather the sheep • Drive entire flock to smaller area select single animal • Pick your animal and quickly encircle it with your arms one in front of chest other around hind quarters sg p 115 • Rump the sheep sg p 116

41. Carrying lambs and restraint for tail docking and castration • Between week 1-2 tail dock and male lambs are castrated sg p 117 (usually takes place a few days after birth) • Necessary for Hygene and health reasons • Emasculator crushes and cuts

42. Goats • These are the least predictable of domestic animals • If agitated or frightened goat may kick or butt • Goats are also playful although less amusing when you are trying to handle or restrain • Most goats wear flat leather collars or neck chains • You can keep a goat still by lifting one of its legs sg p 120 • Some goats need firmer restraint and can be put in lateral recumbency similar to a med size dog sg p 121 • Venipuncture restrain like a dog for jugular stick sgp122

44. Pigs • Appear to be rugged, but must be handled gently • Not athletic fragile skeletal system • Strong jaws with tusks that can inflict severe bites • Poor vision and easily frightened • Can overheat easily so don’t chase around • Don’t sweat and can’t even pant to cool (sprinkle with water) • Pigs are funneled into smaller and smaller pens • Use cane to tap animal to move or use hurdles • Lasso and harness to move

46. Equipment • Pig catcher • Snare • V trough • Snubbing rope: see sg p126-128 • Hobbles sg p 128

47. Piglets • Use small enclosure to corral sg p 130 • Avoid chasing the animals may cause them to overheat • Grab piglet by one or both hind legs • Place other arm under piglets chest • Release rear legs and place your hand under abdomen • Never grab or hold a piglet by tail

48. Fowl

49. Fowl handling and restraint • Occasionally you will need to restrain for vaccinations , blood draws or exams - delicate skeletal system legs/wings break easily • Generally docile except for roosters ,Usually housed in large pens tend to scatter • To capture stand next to chicken bend down and quickly grasp legs pull chicken up so head is facing the ground sound easy huh see sg p 135 • Once captured wrap your arm around and secure feet with other hand fig 91 page 136 • Large turkeys use hook or net first carry in reverse head facing your back and neck at your elbow keep close to your body