stockmanship

what is stockmanship?

• ability to maintain animal welfare to a high level on farm

• know basic principles of animal health and husbandry

• recognise ill health and disease

• recognise signs of distress

• empathise

roles of a stockman

• effectively and efficiently moving animals

• carrying out normal husbandry jobs

• monitoring production of stock

• observing stock for signs of ill health

• managing land ad building which the stock live

• keep records

general cow behaviour

• social 

• curious

• grazing

• ruminate

• lying down 12-16hrs

• play

cow behaviour to be aware of

• fighting for dominance

• charging

sheep general behaviour

• flighty- less human interaction

sheep behaviour to be aware of

• head butting

• pawing at the ground- communication to move away

• charging

pig general behaviour

• foraging

• rolling

• indoor need enrichment

pig behaviour to be aware of

• scratching

• biting

• mounting

• kicking

move cows and sheep

• wide monocular vision

• limitied binocular

• cows kick sideway

• point of balance at 90 degrees of shoulder

• move forward and back move in front and behind pob

• when moving forward move behind the point of balance at around 60 degrees but not in the kick, in the flight zone

moving pigs

• slightly larger binocular vision

• larger blind spot

sheep dog pros and cons

• fast

• efficient

• agile

• trainable

• tire easily

• aggression

• time to train

• costs

stick

• you are in control

• increases your size- useful in guiding

• misuse

shepperds crook

• leg or neck

• quick catch

• safer

• misuse

pigboard

• easy

others

• flag to block vision

• paddles- makes noise, can use to tap

quad bike

• efficient

• long distances

• cost

• misuse

• unsuitable for all terrain

• danger to user

voice

• can be heard

• no equipment

cow halter

cow halter

electric cattle prod

diffferent races

funnel race

stepped

crowding pen- but gate can cause injury