I was able to attend the Temple Grandin presentation in Abilene on Tuesday, March 9. She is a pretty amazing lady who has much insight into the behavior and handling of animals. Of course, my main interest was in beef cattle, as was most of the attendees.
The presentation was sponsored by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and Pfizer Animal Health.
Dr. Grandin spent about an hour talking about animal handling, how they react to humans in their “space,” and the best way to get them to do what we’re wanting. She talked about the best way to move cattle from pasture to pasture, how to get them into a pen, then finally how best to handle them in the chute.
She pointed out things people working with cattle should “watch out for,” such as different colors of fences in the crowding pen or run to the chute, shadows and different light intensity in different areas of the working pens. “Cattle react to different light, shadows, etc.,” she said.
Another thing Dr. Grandin mentioned is “animals will tend to move in the opposite direction of the handler movement.” The point of balance is at the animal’s shoulder. All species of livestock will move forward if the handler stands behind the point of balance. They will back up if the handler stands in front of the point of balance. Many handlers make the mistake of standing in front of the point of balance while attempting to make an animal move forward in a chute.
“The best way to get animals to move forward is for the handler to walk in the opposite direction of desired movement,” she says.
The second hour of her presentation was devoted to design and use of handling facilities for cattle. One of Dr. Grandin’s points in this area of her presentation was that a crowd pen should only be filled half full (I always thought a “crowd pen” was just that – crowd them in). And she is a great believer and promoter of curved races and working pens.
She says, “Cattle will move more easily through a curved race system with solid sides because they can’t see people or other distractions.”
Her main point in the presentation was the humane treatment of animals-recognizing when they’re in a “stress” situation and reacting to that stress in the correct way. Also, making the handling of the animals safe for them, as well as the humans working with the animals.
If you ever have the chance to hear Dr. Grandin in person, I’d certainly recommend it.
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