Cattle Flashcards
Approaching and Capturing Cattle
Because cattle tend to be less fearful than horses, you can usually approach them without fear. Some animals will be indifferent as you approach, then aggressively attempt to escape once you get closer. Observe the animal’s body language closely to stay out of its likely escape route.
Otherwise, you may be trampled. While cattle are easy to approach, they aren’t easy to lead. Even those used to frequent handling will often refuse to budge.
It may be especially difficult to separate one animal from the group. Try herding the animal with a small group toward the examination area.
Then direct the selected animal toward a cattle chute for further treatment. You can herd cattle by urging them with your voice or by gently prodding them. Try not to panic the herd. A panicked herd can be difficult to calm.
Most dairy cows are just driven to the barn door and then find their way to their own stalls, which hold them while they’re being milked.
Some stalls are designed so that they can also be used for restraining purposes. Approach a cow in a stall as you would a horse—slowly, on the left side.
Cattle chute.
The typical cattle examination area channels animals into progressively smaller areas. One area is usually an alleyway just big enough for a single animal. At the end of this alley is the cattle chute. At its other end is a gate to be closed once the animal enters the alley. The front of the chute has an opening that holds the animal’s head in place (called a stanchion), and poles on either side for cross-tying. Some chutes also have side walls that can be pressed in to move the animal to one side of the chute.
Halter.
Even restrained in a chute, cattle move their heads considerably, making treatment difficult and handling dangerous. Most cattle restraint is designed to hold the head in place. Halters generally serve that purpose. The cattle halter resembles a horse’s. It can be made of flat leather straps or improvised from a length of rope.
To improvise a rope halter,
Step 1: Make a loop in the rope and pass it around the animal’s neck so that it falls behind the ears.
Step 2: Pull the free end through the first loop and over the nose, forming a second loop that acts as a noseband.
Step 3: Use the end of the rope to control the head and lead the animal.
Nose lead.
A nose lead, large metal tongs with large ball-shaped ends, also serves to control the head when a halter isn’t sufficient. Place the ball-shaped ends into the nostrils to gently squeeze the nasal septum (the tissue between the nostrils). You can then tie the nose lead to one of the poles at the front of the cattle chute. Many bulls have permanently attached nose rings, making nose tongs unnecessary. To cross-tie a bull by its nose ring, attach two lead ropes to the ring and tie them to opposite poles of the chute.
You can also help restrain the head with a bull staff, a long-handled metal rod with a large hook at one end that clips to the nose ring.
Hobbles
Hobbles can prevent an animal from kicking. Various types of hobbles are available. Milking hobbles look like leg irons: two metal bands connected by a length of chain. Place the hobbles on the animal’s rear legs, just above the hock. The chain should pass in front of the legs. You can also improvise hobbles out of rope.
Tail jacking and tying.
Tail jacking is a method of lifting the tail up. To jack a cattle’s tail,
Step 1: Grasp the tail with both hands nearest the animal’s body.
Step 2: Lift the tail up gently but firmly. Take care to keep the tail in line with the spine and not deflected out to either side. Because a cow’s or bull’s tail isn’t as strong as a horse’s, handle it carefully to avoid fracturing the vertebrae.
To tie a tail,
Step 1: Locate the end of the last vertebra in the tail.
Step 2: At a spot about 18 inches from one end of the rope, lay the rope across the tail so that it lays over the end of the last vertebra. Fold the rest of the tail up and over the rope. Pass the short end of the rope behind the tail. Make a long, sharp loop in the rope as you go.
Step 3: Bring the loop over the folded tail. Pass the loop through the rope that’s looped under the tail.
Step 4: Pull the longer end of the rope to tighten it.
Step 5: Use the longer end of the rope to tie the tail to the cattle’s front leg or neck.
When complete, the tail tie should appear as shown at right.
The casting rope.
The casting rope serves to place an animal on its side. There are several ways to use a casting rope. All of them require the animal to wear a strong halter or nose lead. The most popular method is as follows:
Step 1: Place the rope across the animal’s back so that its ends fall between the forelegs and cross under the sternum.
Step 2: Pull these ends up and cross them over the animal’s back.
Step 3: Cross the rope ends over the animal’s back.
Step 4: Pass the ends of the rope through the animal’s rear legs and pull, which will cause the animal to lie down.
Step 5: Use the rope to guide the animal into position on its side.
Calf Handling and Restraint
To pick up a small calf (80 lb. or less): While a calf can be restrained fairly easily once separated from its mother, be careful. Cows are very protective of their calves. A mother cow may charge if she senses that her calf is in danger.
Step 1: Place one arm in front of the animal’s chest.
Step 2: Place your other arm behind the animal’s hindquarters.
Step 3: Once your arms are around the calf, lift up.
Handle larger calves with a rope halter or herd them into an examination area. Always handle calves gently to avoid frightening them. A calf handled gently now will be easier to work with later as an adult.
Transporting Cattle
Cattle usually travel on large trucks, fully loaded to prevent the animals from moving about. A few loosely loaded animals are likely to become quite active during the trip, injure themselves, and make the truck impossible to drive. When individual cows are in need of transport, they’re transported on smaller trailers.
Sheep
Sheep are the timidest domestic animal. They have reason to be: a sheep has no natural defenses. Their usual response to danger is to run, and they rarely bite or kick. They’re also unaccustomed to regular handling, so sheep are usually quite nervous when you approach them. Because sheep have fragile skeletal systems and thin skin, your primary goal in restraining a sheep is to hold it in position without harming it.
Equipment for Handling and Restraining Sheep
With the exception of a few barriers that can be used for temporary pen areas, sheep require very little specialized equipment. A shepherd’s crook can immobilize an individual animal. Place the hook high up on the animal’s back leg, then grab and hold the animal quickly to prevent it from struggling and injuring its leg.
Approaching and Capturing Sheep and Lambs
Sheep usually reside in open fields as part of a flock. Approach the animals while talking in quiet, calm tones. Because sheep move with the flock, it’s usually easier to drive all the flock into a small area or pen and then remove an individual animal for treatment. A good sheep dog can be a real asset when gathering a flock.
Once you have the flock gathered in a small area or pen, you must remove the individual sheep from the flock. To do this, get the sheep to move around the pen by using a small prod. As the sheep pass by, determine which particular sheep you need to restrain, and separate it from the flock. Once you’ve selected the animal, reach quickly around it. Place one arm around its forequarters under the neck and one arm around its hindquarters. This hold allows you to direct the animal to a smaller holding or treatment area. When a flock of sheep receives medication, the restrainer marks each animal with a marking crayon so that no animal gets a double dose.
Restraining Adult Sheep
Most examinations and minor procedures can be performed with the sheep placed upon its rump. To restrain a sheep on its rump,
Step 1: Stand on the animal’s side.
Step 2: Place one arm around the sheep’s neck at the shoulder, and, with your other arm, reach over the animal and under its abdomen as far as possible, depending on the animal’s size.
Step 3: Gently lift the sheep and tilt it back onto its rump. Stand directly behind the sheep so that its back rests against your legs. Tilt the sheep’s body slightly back so that it’s off balance. A sheep in this position rarely kicks or struggles.
Carrying and Restraining Lambs
Carry a newborn lamb with one hand between its front legs. Support its chest with your arm. You can also pick up and carry a newborn lamb as you would a medium-to-large-size dog.
Restraining a Lamb for Tail Docking and Castration
Between its first and second week, a lamb usually has its tail docked לחתוך, and a male lamb is castrated עיקור. Handlers begin this process by herding the lambs to a small pen. This technique makes it easier to remove individual lambs from the group.
There are several ways to restrain lambs for tail docking and castration. Here’s one:
Step 1: Sit down.
Step 2: Grasp the lamb’s right legs with your right hand and its left legs with your left hand.
Step 3: Place the lamb on its back, supported by your legs.
A second method is to stand and support the lamb’s back against your body while holding the legs as described in Step 2.
