Low Stress Methods For Moving And Herding Cattle On Pastures
Stockfarm|January 2021
In order to lower stress and improve productivity, calm, quiet handling of cattle in all aspects of management is very important. There are three steps in the process of moving cattle on large pastures:
Temple Grandin, Jennifer Lanier and Mark Deesing
Low Stress Methods For Moving And Herding Cattle On Pastures

Step 1: Gathering and loose bunching

This is the most critical step. The majority of the herd must be loosely bunched before any attempt is made to move the cattle. Depending on herd size, wildness of the cattle and the terrain, it will usually take five to 20 minutes to induce the herd to form a loose bunch. This is accomplished by applying very light pressure on the edge of the collective flight zone to induce the animals to move into a loose bunch.

The handler should locate the majority of the herd and start making a series of wide back and forth movements on the edge of the herd. You should move in the pattern of a giant windshield wiper.

The handler can induce the rear animals to begin to move by giving them a ‘predatory’ stare. This simulates the initial stalking behaviour of a predator sizing up the herd. The handler should keep continuously moving back and forth. If you stop moving and linger too long in one animal’s blind spot, it may turn back and look at you.

On open pastures, it is important to take your time. Six to 20 wide back and forth movements of 100m or more may be required to move the herd into a loose bunch. Handler movement patterns on large pastures and other large spaces are much larger than handler movement patterns in confined spaces such as alleys or feedlot pens. The handler should continuously walk back and forth and move enough to the side so that the lead animals can see him (Figure 1).

Cattle that are off to one side of the pasture will be attracted as the herd moves into a loose bunch. Animals hidden in the brush or timber will be drawn out because they seek the safety of the herd. Do not chase stragglers.

This story is from the January 2021 edition of Stockfarm.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2021 edition of Stockfarm.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM STOCKFARMView All
Shongololo Boer Goat Stud: Only The Best Will Do
Stockfarm

Shongololo Boer Goat Stud: Only The Best Will Do

South African Boer goats have proven popular worldwide for their ability to improve indigenous goat breeds. In addition, Covid-19 restrictions necessitated the establishment of electronic auctions, making it easier for foreigners to acquire outstanding genetic material exported by agents via established channels.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2021
Feed Additives: A Veterinary Perspective
Stockfarm

Feed Additives: A Veterinary Perspective

In an already volatile environment, dairy profit margins vary as milk prices and feed costs shift annually. Feed costs represent the largest input cost (an estimated 35 to 70% of the variable cost) in the production of milk. As a group of feed ingredients, feed additives can cause a desired physiological response in a non-nutrient way, such as pH shift, growth or metabolic modifier, and will usually be cost-beneficial.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2021
Guard Against Lumpy Skin Disease
Stockfarm

Guard Against Lumpy Skin Disease

Most parts of the country received good rains during the rain season and producers are generally very optimistic. Wet seasons unfortunately come with their own set of challenges and veterinarians have cautioned livestock producers to keep an eye out for elevated biting insect loads, which may lead to conditions such as lumpy skin disease (LSD).

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2021
Climate-Related Hazards: How Smallholders Can Mitigate Its Consequences
Stockfarm

Climate-Related Hazards: How Smallholders Can Mitigate Its Consequences

Rainfed crop production remains the main source of food security and livelihoods for rural communities in South Africa but presents the challenge of climate variability due to its high dependence on weather variables such as rainfall and temperature.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2021
Tips for a successful AI programme
Stockfarm

Tips for a successful AI programme

The success of an artificial insemination (AI) programme depends on several factors that are largely within the control of the producer. It is interesting that those producers who take a hands-on approach to their cattle and inspect them regularly are also the ones who achieve the greatest success. Before his passing, Stockfarm spoke to Koot Louw, a well-known reproduction technologist from Brandfort in the Free State, about his insights into and advice regarding the AI process.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2021
Pay Attention To Orf In Your Flocks
Stockfarm

Pay Attention To Orf In Your Flocks

Some of our readers may have treated or heard of sheep or goats that have been infected with orf (vuilbek).

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021
Sanele Mbele: Where Passion And Skill Meet
Stockfarm

Sanele Mbele: Where Passion And Skill Meet

Passion for farming runs strong in the Mbele family’s veins. Sanele Mbele, from the farm Rietspruit in the De Jagersdrift area near Dundee, has inherited this passion in huge dollops.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2021
Land Reform: Case Studies In Kwazulu-Natal
Stockfarm

Land Reform: Case Studies In Kwazulu-Natal

Land reform in South Africa is complex. Land reform solutions are equally complex and within partnership and development models, this is no different – but there is hope. KwaZulu-Natal has several types of partnership models and the wide variation in farming systems, as well as their different needs, set each model up for different strengths and weaknesses.

time-read
7 mins  |
July 2021
Brahman Breeders In Limpopo Have A Winning Plan
Stockfarm

Brahman Breeders In Limpopo Have A Winning Plan

Several breeders from the Bosveld Brahman Club in Limpopo are applying genetic excellence and genotypic correctness to stimulate the demand for their bulls. At several of the last auctions, the minimum standard of bulls was raised to achieve this goal.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2021
A Brahman Dream Comes True
Stockfarm

A Brahman Dream Comes True

For as long as he can remember, JP Mlangeni wanted to be a farmer. It might have taken a few years, from being a teacher and later a businessman, but his dream finally took shape and today he runs a fully-fledged breeding and commercial Brahman farming enterprise in Mpumalanga.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2021