Animal Science 232 - Cattle behavior and handling

What are the top two causes of injuries to people working on farms?

1. Farm machinery

2. Injuries involving animals

What are reasonable things to do in order to move cattle from one location to another?

• Make sure the pathway between the locations is free of distractions

• Get the boss cow moving in the desired direction

• Shake a grain bucket as you walk in the desired direction

• Walk in a zig-zag pattern behind the herd’s point of balance at the edge of the flight zone

How can you use flight zone and point of balance to move a cow on pasture forward?

Enter flight zone behind POB to get them to move forward

Once a cow starts walking forward, how can you easily get her to stop walking?

Get out of (back out of) the flight zone

How can you use flight zone and point of balance to move a cow on pasture backward?

Enter flight zone in front of point of balance to get them to move backward

True or false - you should always be aware of your body in relation to a cow, and be prepared to make minute-by-minute adjustments

True

List 9 signs of stress or aggression in cattle

1. Raised ears

2. Stiff posture + side-eye

3. Vocalizing/bellowing

4. Rapidly swishing tail

5. Pawing at the ground

6. Snorting

7. Head throwing

8. Defecating

9. Charging

List 6 different types of restraint for cattle

1. Rope halter

2. Headlocks

3. Squeeze chute

4. Show chute

5. Nose/ring twitch

6. Tail jack

True or false - cattle have wide panoramic vision, but poor depth perception

True

True or false - cattle are content to be alone or in groups

False

After using a row of headlocks to administer vaccines to a herd, what should you do when you are done working with the cattle?

Unlock headlocks

When leading a steer on a halter, should you stand on its left side or its right side?

the animal’s left side

When leading a heifer in a large circle, you should turn in which direction?

Clockwise

In order to start a halter-training session, why do you need to work in a small space?

To initially catch the cattle

Describe the pull and release method of halter training

Apply pressure on a halter in a forward motion to get a calf to walk. As soon as the calf takes a step, release pressure to provide positive reinforcement for cooperation

After placing a halter on a calf, how far away from a fence post should the calf be tied with a quick-release knot?

1 foot

Why should a halter be tied to a fence post when a calf is misbehaving?

It provides a solid surface that has no give/they can’t get away from; minimizing risk of calf hurting itself or others

List two things you could do to settle down a stressed calf

1. Brush them to try and calm them down

2. Back away from them when calf is tied