Stockmanship Intervention Opportunities

By: Dr. Tom Noffsinger Production Animal Consultation

Cattle are herd animals that thrive in wide open spaces where abundant forages and water are available. Modern beef production systems include both range settings and more confined, intensely managed environments. Most cattle health, soundness, and performance challenges are associated with cattle address changes. Caregivers are present during routine herd visits and handling events and can focus on making human intervention positive for both cattle and people. Strive to use each visit to a herd to create effective communication and voluntary motion that supports performance and health.

Cow-calf production parameters that can be improved through effective stockmanship include first service conception rates, maternal bonding, nursing frequency, neonatal health, and weaning behavior. Focused caregiver interactions at feedlots can improve arrival feed and water intake levels, reduce morbidity, and improve treatment responses.

Create an awareness that consistent handling is an exciting adventure for both cattle and caregiver teams. Each intervention is a chance to train both people and cattle. A partial list of skills that improve performance, health, and safety include:

1. “Greeting” new cattle at the unloading chute.

2. Leading cattle to receiving pens and to and from processing facilities.

3. Allowing high risk, commingled calves to travel through processing facilities prior to processing.

4. Acclimating new arrivals to bunk, bedding, and water sources.

5. Creating counter-clockwise herd motion during acclimation and pen riding events.

6. Removing single pulls quietly so they want to go to the hospital.

7. Responding to cattle requests to create orderly cattle movement during daily pen checks.

8. Emptying pens seamlessly for pen moves, shipping, and sorting.

9. Exercising and creating cattle exuberance in priority pens.

10. Loading harvest cattle so they perceive to belong on the truck.

Work as a team to teach and share effective handling techniques that promote harmony between people, horses, and cattle. Our goal is to understand each other and the creatures we are responsible for at higher levels.

Creating counter clockwise herd motion with the left eye toward the handler during early acclimation and pen rider activities saves time and improves the chances that cattle will express true states of health.