Cattle Handling

Question 1

cows have ___ and ___ behaviors

Answer 1

innate and learned

Question 2

Cattle are
Predator or Prey?
Herd or Solitary?

Answer 2

prey
herd

Question 3

What is a cows flight zone

Answer 3

Their personal space zone/ where they can see you/ how close you can get before they will move away

-beef cattle have bigger flight zone

Question 4

Cow eyes are…

Answer 4

lateral
horizontal split pupil

Question 5

cows have _____ vertical vision and poor…

Answer 5

limited

depth perception (it requires binocular vision)

Question 6

Cow hearing and smell?

Answer 6

do not like high pitched/loud noises

can smell odors 1 mile away

Question 7

cows walk in a ___ beat gate

Answer 7

4 beat

LF/RH/RF/LH

Question 8

cows trot in a ___ beat gate

Answer 8

2 beat

LF and RH/ RF and LH

Question 9

can cows run and jump?

Answer 9

Yes

older cows can canter (3 beat)

more common in cows

Question 10

How do cows get up and down?

Answer 10

Front down first

to get up:
hind up first and with swinging forward of head

Question 11

Agressive behaviors and why?

Answer 11

Lowering the head, pawing, going “head to head”

New mothers, bulls, increased competition, prey animals that can’t flee

Question 12

How can you tell their emotions?

Answer 12

their head!

neutral, confident approach

low and high intensity (upset horns towards)

Question 13

How do cows kick?

Answer 13

laterally and straight back

be cautious and respectful

Question 14

what equation should you know for cows kicking?

Answer 14

Force= mass x acceleration

right next to them or very far away

Question 15

Where and what is the point of balance

Answer 15

Their shoulder, if they move forward or backwards

Question 16

Moving stubborn or “too tame” cows

Answer 16

tail twist (at base)

more often in dairy

in a pen already

Question 17

cows deserve freedom from…

Answer 17

discomfort, pain, disease, fear, and distress

Question 18

purpose of facilities and restraint techniques

Answer 18

improve safety, animal healths, and efficiency

Question 19

Beef cow preventative

Answer 19

in groups - often managed “seasonally” – breeding, calving, weaning therefore seasonally appropriate times to palpate for pregnancy, vaccinate, castrate, etc

Question 20

Dairy cow preventative medicine

Answer 20

In smaller groups - in US typically not seasonal – breeding and calving all year round but more EFFICIENT to vaccinate, dehorn and palpate groups at a time from a management standpoint

Question 21

Basic components of a cattle facility (5)

Answer 21

-pen
-tub or crowding gate
-alley way
-chute
-head catch (manual vs self-catching)

Question 22

head catch vs head lock

Answer 22

head catch is at the end of a chute
head locks are co-located with feed bank

Question 23

Cow halter

Answer 23

individual restraint- for showing

rope portions and knots

controls the head for IV injections or looking into eyes/mouth

around ears FIRST and then chin piece

lead from left

Question 24

Quick release knot

Answer 24

1. Pull free end of lead and releases
2. Tension on lead towards animal does NOT release knot
3. Can be tied without releasing tension on animal

Question 25

restraint of hind limbs AFTER head is restrained

Answer 25

tail jack - 2 hands - at base

Hobbles - ankle straps - assist in invasive procedures

chemical restraint

Question 26

What is casting?

Answer 26

laying down a bovine down in a controlled manner

work on feet, twisted stomach/uterus, dystocia, uterine prolapse

Question 27

Casting methods

Answer 27

Bovine is always haltered and tied low to stationary object
Often used with mild chemical restraint (sedation)

Ropes used in 2 methods to bring animal to ground’
- Running W (more likely) and Double Half-hitch
Ropes used to tie feet for safety and to maintain correct position

Question 28

Why use Running W vs Double Half-hitch

Answer 28

less knots, easier to remove, no tracheal or thorax pressure

no preputial pressure

Question 29

Factors to consider when casting

Answer 29

Temperament of animal – will determine if need chemical sedation as well
How stationary is the object you are haltering the bovine too?
What are the characteristics of the ground?
Are you prepared?
Ropes ready and knots pre-tied for controlling the feet?
Supplies gathered for your procedure?
People to assist in tying feet or rolling bovine?

Question 30

When to use a tom fools knot

Answer 30

to restrain the hooves