Why Calm Cattle

Why Calm Cattle

Susan Allen
Susan Allen

 

It was interesting to note the characteristics of the different bloodlines at the bull sale I attended last week. The ranker bulls typically brought less money and there are good reasons why  most  ranchers don’t want high strung cattle. I’m Susan Allen when Open Ranger returns a tragedy in Oregon serves to remind us all of the risk in working with livestock.  It’s  is easy to become complacent around livestock, while  I don’t know the circumstances, the accident last month at the Eugene Livestock Auction where an Oregon cattle rancher was killed after being tossed to the pavement by a cow serves as a reminder that livestock can be dangerous. There are good reasons that calmer temperments bring more money in bull sales, even beyond the peace of mind issue. Colorado State University researchers found that feedlot cattle with quieter  dispositions gained .41 lbs more weight per day than then their more excitable pen mates. Other studies have concluded that a cow’s ability to resist disease can be traced to poor temperament. Texas A and M scientists even discovered  that  vaccinations lasted longer in calm calves then frightened ones. In situations  where ranchers don’t have control over the selection of cattle, calm handling methods that utilize  the five basics tenets of cattle behavior can help keep the handlers safe and cattle healthier. Remember , cattle want to see you, they want to go around you, they want to be with and go to other cattle, they think of only one thing at a time and like horses they move away from pressure.
Previous ReportThe Importance of Age Verification
Next Report Tips ON Training Kids And Horses From Barrel Horse Trainer Lance Graves