03/16/05 Livestock handliing

Livestock Handling Handling livestock with less stress can be a benefit to animals, people, and your pocketbook. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back with some details. Temple Grandin, associate professor of animal science at Colorado State University and probably the best known expert on humane livestock handling, says proper procedures when working livestock can affect profitability. One of the ways Grandin says will make moving livestock easier is to lessen visual disturbances. Livestock have wide-angle vision so working alleys, loading and handling chutes should be solid-walled which will keep animals looking for areas to move through, but not be disturbed by anything outside the working area. Workers moving livestock can benefit from knowing the animal's prior experiences but this is hard to pinpoint since most livestock I've worked don't wear ID bracelets that tell all of their phobias; so just steady calm handling would be the best approach. One of Grandin's important concepts is using the animal's personal flight zone to help move them with the least amount of problems. I can relate to this since I've gotten into some real dandy volunteer work by not paying attention to my personal flight zone and just moving on down the line. Cutting back on noise, especially unexpected loud noises can help livestock Grandin says. Continuous exposure to sounds over 100 decibels reduces weight gains, which affects profit. Maybe that's why so many rock stars have such emancipated bodies. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Farmer-Stockman February 2005