– Bill Halfman, Agriculture Agent, Monroe County, Wisconsin
Hands on cattle handling demonstrations will be a large part of Stockmanship & Stewardship in Caldwell in September.
We often hear and see reports on how sickness or the use of technologies such as fly control, implants, ionophores, and others influence animal performance and profitability.
Low-stress cattle handling methods have been discussed and promoted for many years, but the influence on animal performance is not often part of those discussions. Some research has been done to investigate the influence that stockmanship has on disposition and animal performance and more is being done.
Good stockmanship and low-stress handling methods include utilizing the animals’ natural tendencies to the handlers’ advantage while working or handling cattle. It includes calm and quiet action and movements by the handlers, changing and remodeling equipment and facilities if there are problem areas that impede cattle flow, and acclimating the cattle to . . .
EDITOR’s NOTE: Hands on cattle handling demonstrations will be a large part of Stockmanship & Stewardship in Caldwell in September. Learn more and register at: https://www.stockmanshipandstewardship.org/
Continue reading Cattle Handling and Stockmanship Influence on Animal Performance