Ch. 2 - Livestock Handling and Safety

Dangers

- Livestock - Chemical safety - Environmental safety - Animal disease - Grain handling - Building problems - Fire safety

Sheep Behavior

- Timid - Do not like be petted - Easily frightened - Aggression Herding - Much like cattle - Strong flocking instinct - Point of balance - Flight zone

Biosecurity

1). procedures designed to minimize disease transmission from outside and inside a production unit. - Wash hands and boots. - Clean clothes. - Control insects, rodents, and birds. - Control mold. - Limit contact with other animals. - Limit vehicle traffic. - Wear rubber gloves when dealing with sick animals. - Wear shoe coverings to prevent transmission. - Wear protective eye covering. - Wear a mask when concerned with aerosols.

Horse Blind Spots

Cannot see: - Directly behind their hindquarters - Directly in front of the tip of their nose - Directly between the eyes in the forehead - Directly above the head and between the ears Avoid unannounced or rapid movements in these areas.

Cattle Restraint 2

Stress results: - Increased respiration - High mortality - Teeth grinding - Poor product quality - Nervousness - Poor growth rate - Poor reproduction - Increased flight zone

Sheet Bend

a knot to connect lines of unequal diameter

Rope Halter

To control an animal's head while the animal is in a chute or while it is being led.

Bowline

To anchor the end of a rope

Hobbles

to keep an animal from wandering or kicking by tying two legs together.

Cattle Restraint 1

"Stress" - Loss of production results in lower profits. - Increased feed requirements result in increased cost. - Decreased immunity results in increased illness. - Death results in lower profits.

Twitches

- Hands - Ears - Chain - Humane Never let go of chain _____________. Apply only enough pressure to do the job.

Horse Restraint

- *They are prey animals and much of their behavior is representative of that* > some will resist being removed from the herd - Control of the head usually enables control of the horse - Placing a halter and lead rope on a horse's head is the key to gaining control of the horse > should be approached from the left side as *most horses are trained to handle from the left and therefore are accustomed to being approached on the left* > stand in front of the shoulder but behind the ear - A horse should never be led by grasping the halter - to lead a horse, walk purposefully in the intended direction and do not look back at the horse

Goat Restraint

- By the beard - Horns can be held near the base - Do not restrain by ears - Lateral recumbency - Collars

Moving or Herding Cattle

- Calmly and quietly. - Point of balance (shoulder) - Use of electric prods is reserved for encouraging animals to move when other methods have failed.

Restraint 2

- Can be abusive if used incorrectly. - Use the least amount of restraint necessary to do the job safely, and do not apply it any longer than necessary.

Camelid Behavior

- Can be aggressive or spit. - Ears and tail can be used to estimate mood. - Males do not tend to be more aggressive. - Orphan or bottle-raised male camelids can be extremely dangerous.

Swine Casting

- Control snout - Cast with ropes - Some farms have crates, chutes, and head catches - V troughs

Goat Leg Restraint

- Front legs lift at fetlock, bend at the knee - Rear legs lift at fetlock, extend caudally

Ear Twitch

- Grab ear and twist. - Unethical (can damage ear permanently). - Makes a horse head shy.

Goat Behavior

- Gregarious - Inquisitive - Respond to human touch and affection - Aggression - Independent - Social hierarchy - Lack herding behavior

Camelid Restraint

- Halter - Stocks, chutes, tilt table

Swine Restraint

- Hog snare or a snubbing rope > Only used on the top jaw > Vocal > Watch for occlusion of breathing or cyanosis of the rostral snout - Hindlegs hobble

Piglet Restraint

- Hold by back legs. - Be gentle but firm. - Do not chase or catch by ears, front legs, or tails. - Squealing upsets sows.

Restraint 1

- Includes chemical and physical restraint. - Prepare: Plan your approach. - Be familiar with your equipment. - Protect the animal. - Protect yourself. - Protect your co-workers. - Liability > The veterinarian is responsible.

Lamb Restraint

- One hand under the body, while the other hand supports the neck - Castration and tail docking restraint

Blindfolding

- Should be removed easily. - One or both eyes can be covered. > forcing the eye shut is usually met with resistance and is unnecessary > covering the eye on the same side as the procedure is most usually applied - Can tuck into a halter. - Some animals will be resistant.

Cattle Restraint 3

- Should never be underestimated. - Cattle are herd animals. - Never turn your back on a bull! > Dairy bulls, in particular. > Cows with calves are often aggressive.

Cattle Restraint Steps

1). Drive a group to a smaller working area. 2). Crowd the animals in a tub. 3). Move them up an alleyway to the chute.

Recumbent Animals

- Stand along the spine. - Use a blunt object to encourage them to stand. - Avoid use of cattle prods.

Swine Behavior

- Stubborn but smart - Herding instinct - Vocal - Easily heat stressed - Tapping on the back can show dominance - Not athletic but fast - Aggression > Biting > Barking - Tusks

Horse Tail Restraint

- Used for foals. > have a tendency to rear when restrained - Used for small ponies. - Used to move, lift, or support the hindquarters. - Can be used to shift weight onto a specific leg to discourage kicking.

Foal Restraint

- Will naturally follow the mare. - Should not be thrown to the ground.

Safety

1). One of the most dangerous occupations - Death rate is 19.2 deaths per 100,000 workers per year. - On average 12,500 nonfatal injuries and illnesses occur per year. 2). Reasons - Human error - Being tired - Not paying attention - Using poor judgment

Zoonosis

1). An infectious disease that is transmissible from animals to humans. 2). Prevention - Cleanliness - Vaccinations - Quarantine sick animals - Avoid exposure

Cattle Chute

A cattle examination area large enough to hold one animal, often with poles for cross-tying and an opening to hold its head in place. - Head gate - Tail gate - Squeeze

Clove Hitch

A knot used to fasten a line temporarily to a post or spar.

Casting (Cattle)

A method of forcing an animal to the ground, usually with ropes, by applying pressure to sensitive points on the body.

Rope Whipping

Also a method for rope storage pg. 20-21.

Tailing

Cattle - The middle of the tail is grasped and twisted forward to one side or the other, over the back, and off of midline. - Too much pressure can break the tail. - Do not stand directly behind them.

Elevating A Horse Leg

Elevating a leg pg. 39-41 - Mild form of restraint. - Intended to discourage a horse from moving around or kicking. > not useful for painful procedures - Before lifting a horse should always be standing "square", that is all four leg should be directly underneath the horse with the weight evenly distributed - *Forelimb* > place one hand on the withers or shoulder area, and run the other hand slowly down the back of the leg to be lifted. When the sliding hand reaches the digital tendons, a gentle squeeze of the tendons usually results in lifting of the leg. If squeezing alone does not work, try pressing your shoulder into the horses shoulder to shift its weight onto the opposite leg - *Hindlimb* > to elevate the hind limb, face the rear of the horse and maintain contact with one hand on the horses hind quarters. Slide the other hand down the leg to the digital tendons and squeeze the tendons - *Do not support the legs so well that you become a substitute leg for the horse, thus allowing it to kick or move at your expense or rest so hard on your legs that muscle fatigue or bruising occurs*

Individual Sheep Restraint

Individual - Do not grab by the wool - Care when using horns > They are innervated - they can feel it - Setting up - Shepherd's crook - Halter

Cria restraint

Like a lamb.

Square Knot

Meant to join two ropes together.

Stocks

Rectangular enclosures made of wood or metal designed to confine the horse to an area with restricted movement (1-2 feet front and back movement) - Some may need to be tranquilized. - Use two gates. - Temporary ________ can be made out of hay bales.

Humane Twitch

Restraint device with a hinged metal device that is placed over the upper lip of the horse and clipped to the halter.

Tail Tie

Restraint of an equine or bovine tail by tying a quick release knot in the switch and the free end to the animal, often the neck.

Kid Restraint

Small kids are usually held in the lap or in a bud box for procedures such as dehorning.

Swine Herding

Swine - Difficult to do in open area - Boards - Blindfolding a pig causes it to walk backward

Half Hitch Knot

Used for fastening to an object for a right angle pull

Tom Fool's Knot

Used for makeshift hobbles

Tail Jacking

Used to prevent the animal from kicking, this technique restrains an animal for minor technical procedures. It involves lifting the tail up in line with the animal's spine to prevent fracturing the vertebrae - more likely to hurt the animal

Nose Tongs

_____ _____ are not to be used as the only head restraint - can be used with halter

Nose Ring

metal ring placed through the septum of the nose to allow a cow to be led

Bowline on a Bight

noose is non-slipping and the ends are of equal length. Used to place around an animal's neck and securing the legs with the same rope

Reefer's Knot

single bow knot that ties in a nonslip but quick release tie