Designing Cattle Facilities for Safe Cattle Handling

1. Designing Cattle Facilities for Safe Cattle Handling C. Kim Chapman Area Animal Scientist

2. Safe Cattle Handling – Why? Bruising from improper handling costs the industry $22,000,000+ annually Shipping fever and excess shrink caused by improper handling causes economic impacts for various industry segments Understanding basics can reduce losses = ↑ value and return to ALL segments of the industry!

3. Facilities Basics • Keep Facilities & Equipment in good condition • Watch for loose nails or boards • Cause hide damage, bruises & infections • Corrals, pens & chutes • Proper size for numbers of animals • Proper type for processing being carried out • Barns and Corrals • Clean and well ventilated • Good drainage • Avoid standing water or manure

4. Handling Basics • Processing should never be a race • Bruising • Injection-site damage • Human injury • Inaccurate or incorrect records • Leave dogs in the truck!!!! • Rough handling  Stress  • Reduced vaccine effectiveness • Lower conception rates • Reduced immune and rumen function

5. Cattle Vision • Cattle have a wide angle of vision • > 300 degrees

6. Cattle Vision, cont. • Cattle have a wide angle of vision • > 300 degrees • Solid walls • Reduce distraction • Movement can cause cattle to balk or become frightened • Dark to Light • No glares • Spotlight on ramp or chute • Paint should be uniform – No contrasts

7. Flight Zone • Animal’s “Flight Zone” = Personal Space • Entering flight zone causes animal to move away • Size of flight zone depends on … • How accustomed to being handled • Familiarity with people • Familiarity with surroundings/facility, etc. • Edge can be determined by slowly walking up on the animal

8. Flight Zone

9. Flight Zone, cont. • Penetrate too deeply  • Bolt and run • Turn and fight • Backing off  Stop moving • Best to work at the edge of the zone • Cattle rearing in chute often caused by reaching over top of chute

10. Hearing • Loud noises should be avoided while handling cattle • Rubber stops on gates and chutes • Loud whistling and yelling just scares cattle • Position hydraulic pump and motor away from squeeze

11. Curved Chutes & Solid Sides • Curved Chutes • Prevents animals from seeing too far ahead • Takes advantage of natural tendency to circle • Inside radius 13’ to 16’ • Straight alleyway • Facilitates movement into a covered area • Solid Sides • Reduce likelihood of distractions slowing animal movement

12. Additional Resources • Cow-Calf Management Guide & Cattle Producers Library CL 210“Reduction of Handling Stress Improves Productivity and Welfare” • Internet sites • http://www.grandin.com/behaviour/principles/flight.zone.html • http://www.grandin.com/behaviour/principles/acting.predator.stress.handling.html • http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/aen/aen82/aen82.pdfCattle Handling Facilities: Planning, Components & Layout, 36pp. • http://www.mwps.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=c_Categories.viewCategory&catID=736&category=Beef

13. Questions????? C. Kim Chapman 250 N. Main Richfield, Utah 84701 435-893-0474 kim.chapman@usu.edu