10-18 IAT Cow Stress
Minimizing animal stress.
An Idaho statesman article reported that “Following an undercover video showing Idaho dairy workers mistreating cows, state schools are teaming up with the industry to offer classes on how to handle animals. The University of Idaho Extension, along with the College of Southern Idaho, will be offering the program beginning following pilot testing. I talked to Terry Patterson, College of Southern Idaho instructional dean. I never like to corner anybody, but I did have to ask him a question about the genesis of his program: “Will there be some sort of sensitivity training to the extent that with animal welfare, they need to be fed, they need, as my mother used to say, TLC, are those topics broached at all? Some of the main topics covered are, why is this important? Part of this course is to learn how to minimize stress in handling. If we reduce stress by proper handling and proper care, then not only of the animal better off, but obviously the production is better. Other pieces might be how to identify animals who are sick and getting those cut out from the milking herd to get some treatment. We are looking at some lameness types of things, body conditioning and routine practices for animal handling and movement. So the sensitivity part, absolutely, but it is basically what is the best way to care for the animals and get them moved around and address those things, with the overall theme being, how do we minimize animal stress.
