The design and construction of facilities for handling cattle

Abstract

Abstract The cattle handling facilities described in this paper are recommended for use with extensively raised cattle which have a large flight zone and are not completely tame. This paper contains diagrams and designs for corrals, yards, sorting (drafting), handling and loading trucks. Single-file races, crowd pens, restraint devices and truck loading ramps should have high solid sides to help keep the cattle calm. Solid fences prevent the cattle from seeing moving people and other distractions outside the fence. Cattle will move more easily through curved races because a curved race prevents the animals from seeing people up ahead. Curved races must be laid out correctly to make them work efficiently. A curved single-file race must not be bent too sharply where it joins the crowd pen. An animal standing in the crowd pen must be able to see two or three body lengths up the single-file race. Equipment for restraining (fixation) of cattle for veterinary procedures should utilize three behavioral principles: (i) blocking the animal's vision; (ii) slow steady motion of parts of the apparatus which are pressed against the animal; and (iii) optimal pressure. A restraint device must apply sufficient pressure to provide the feeling of being held, but excessive pressure that causes pain or struggling must be avoided. Shadows, sparkling reflections, high-pitch noise and objects which jiggle or move will cause cattle to balk and impede movement through the race.