Facilities and Handling Flashcards
What 4 factors does ease of handling depend upon?
- Temperament.
- Size.
- Experience.
- Design of handling facilities.
What is the heritability of temperament?
Medium to high.
Where is cattle temperament most easily evaluated?
During chute restraint.
What is a 1 on the 4 point scale used to evaluate temperament?
Stands silently.
What is a 2 on the 4 point scale used to evaluate temperament?
Is restless.
What is a 3 on the 4 point scale used to evaluate temperament?
Struggles constantly.
What is a 4 on the 4 point scale used to evaluate temperament?
Demonstrates frenzied activity.
How does size factor into handling ease?
Smaller animals are easier to handle.
How does cattle first experience with something impact them?
If they have a bad experience, they will have a negative association with the place and/or person and avoid it/them.
Do cattle work better individually or in groups?
In groups.
How long do cattle need to calm down after being agitated?
30 minutes, minimum.
Can cattle be trained to come when called?
Yes, they can be trained to respond to horns, vocal calls, and whistles.
What types of sounds disturb cattle?
- Clanging metal.
- Compressed air.
- Motors.
- Pumps.
- Yelling.
*Loud or unusual noises.
How many degrees is cattle vision?
310-360.
Where is the blind spot on cattle?
Directly behind them.
Why are cattle sensitive to shadows?
Due to eye placement, they often lack depth perception and the ability to determine whether something is a hole or not. Therefore, they assume all shadows are holes.
What do cattle tend to move towards, darkness or light?
Light.
What 3 methods can be used to stimulate movement in cattle without equipment?
- Entering the flight zone.
- Touching the animal.
- Twisting the tail.
What 3 methods can be used to stimulate movement in cattle with equipment?
- Hot shot (Avoid if possible).
- Noise makers (ex: Rattle Paddle).
- Small flag on the end of a stick.
How do you use flight zones to move a group of cattle?
You consistently move back and forth across all of their flight zones.
When moving cattle using a horse or vehicle, how should you make turns?
Away from the cattle.
What is the most important job during sorting?
Getting the cattle into chute system.
What is the major difference between moving cows and moving bulls?
Bulls are more likely to turn and fight when pressure is put on them, so they need to be handled with more care.
Which is better when working with calves: Bring them to the corral or do it in the field?
Do it in the field.
Why should dams and calves be kept side-by-side at all times?
So that when the dam is driven, the calf will follow and learn from her.
Why should a hot shot not be used to get animals into the trailer?
It will give the animal a negative association with the trailer.
What 3 procedures is a chute used to accomplish?
- Insecticide/Anti-parasitic/Dewormer.
- Vaccination.
- Physical exam.
What are the measurements of a chute with adjustable sides?
18-30 inches wide?
What are the measurements of a V-shaped chute?
14-17 in. wide at the bottom for the first 2 feet, then it flares to 24-30 in. at the hip and head height.
What are the measurements of a straight-sided permanent chute?
26-28 in. wide.
Why should exit and squeeze chutes have solid sides?
If they were made with bars it would provide the illusion of escape and the animal would likely be more difficult to handle.
What type of action does a straight-bar headgate have?
Generally automatic catch.
What is the advantages of a straight-bar headgate?
Protection against choking.
What is the disadvantages of a straight-bar headgate?
Allows the animal to move its head up and down.
What type of action does a positive-type headgate have?
Guillotine-like action.
What is the advantages of a positive-type headgate?
Complete head control.
What is the disadvantages of a positive-type headgate?
Choking risk.
What is the disadvantages of a curved-bar headgate?
Allows for lying down and choking.
How is the disadvantage of a curved-bar headgate mitigated?
Using it in conjunction with a squeeze chute.
What 3 factors does the type of fencing used depend upon?
- Purpose.
- Animals.
- Location.
What are the 5 fencing options?
- Net wire.
- Electric.
- High tensile (electric or non-electric).
- Barbed wire.
- Virtual.
What are the 3 alternate names for net wire?
- Page wire.
- Woven wire.
- Hog wire