Farm Animal Handling & Restraint

Bull staff

A long-handled metal rod with a large hook at one end that clips to the nose ring can also help restrain head.

Cradle

A series of bars tied together like a non rigid fence. Tied around the neck. Prevents the horse from biting or licking itself.

Approaching & capturing fowl

Always enter enclosure slowly & confidently. Reach down & grab the chickens leg quickly. Pull up the chicken so that its head is facing the ground or under your arm. When carrying a more agg. chicken or one not used to handling, carry it backward w/ its head between your arm & body.

Horse rear foot

Approach horse from side at the shoulder. Place hand on horses side. Run hand along the horse as you walk toward its rear. Standing alongside the horses rear w/ one hand on the horse, run the other hand down the horses leg. Grasp & lift the foot as described for the front feet.

Handling & restraining foals

Baby horse. Lead mare (intact female) into a small enclosure. Place one hand in front of it & one behind it. Secure by holding the base of its tail. Work it toward a wall. Keep eye on mare when handling.

Restraining a lamb for tail docking & castration

Between 1st & 2nd week for tail docking, males get castrated. Begin by herding lambs into small pen. Remove an individual, sit down, grasp lambs right legs w/ your right hand & its left legs w/ your left. Place lamb on its back, supported by your legs. Another method is to stand & support the lambs back against your body while holding the legs.

Blind fold

Calm particularly frightened horses makes it easy to lead

Carrying & restraining lambs

Carry w/ 1 hand between its front legs, supporting its chest w/ your arm. Carry as you would a medium size dog.

Equipment for fowls

Catching net & hook

Equipment for cattle restraint

Cattle chute Halter Nose lead Bull staff Hobbles Tail jacking & tying Casting rope (Hard to handle. Never interact w/ humans. Aim to restraint head)

Lip twitch

Composed of a long wooden handle w/ a loop of rope or stainless-steel chain at one end, oldest & simplest restraint. Humane twitch (one person twitch)!can be used when a restrainer is unavailable to hold a regular twitch. Designed to stimulate horses nerves. Small amount of pain to distract horse. If left on too long can make lip numb.

Halter (cattle)

Designed to hold head in place resembles a horse halter. Flat leather strap or improvised from rope. Make loop in the rope & pass it around the cattle neck so it falls behind the ears. Pull free end through the 1st loop & over the nose, forming a second loop that acts as a nose band. Use end of rope to control the head and lead the animal

Approaching & capturing piglets

Dont chase. Always direct pigs & piglets to a small enclosure before attempting capture. Approach it from behind. Quickly grab the piglet by 1 or both of its rear legs. Place your other arm under the piglets chest & lift straight up. Dont grasp by its tail. To carry the piglet, release the rear legs & place your hand under its ab.

Transporting horses

Double-stalled trailers have dividers. Minimize injuries by having them wear commercial shipping boots or stall leg wraps. Restrain w/ cross tie if shy apply blindfold. Give water & food every 4 hours.

Restraining fowl

For exams hold them against a solid surface. Very fragile skeletal system. For oral meds usually have a hold w/ its neck outstretched. Turkeys should be grasped first w/ a catching net or hook. Fowl occasionally need to be restrained for vaccination or for blood collection purposes.

Approaching & capturing sheep/lambs

Gather flock in a small area or pen to get an individual. Sheep dogs get sheep to move around by using a small prod. Once you have sheep reach quickly around it placing 1 arm around its hindquarters. Can then direct the animal to a smaller holding. Mark each sheep so none get double dose.

Equipment for handling & restraint for horses

Halter Chain leads Cradle Lip twitch Hobble Stock Cross tying Blindfold

Halter & Lead (chain)

Halter encircles the head w/ a nose band & thirst latch. Most have rings along side of the nosepiece that take a lead. Lead is guide leash that attaches to halter to allow you to hold horse Chain lead provides more forceful restraint w/ horses that aren't regularly handled. Can use to distract by passing it through rings of nose piece or along gum line.

Capturing a horse

Hide rope as you approach if shows no sign of agg. place lead rope over horses neck, put on halter & lead away. (If skittish) speak softly pat neck & scratch behind ears, slip rope over neck. If remained calm place lead rope over its neck. Tug rope to get attention if doesn't work release & start again

How to apply halter & lead rope

Hold neck strap & buckle end of halter in left hand. Stand on left side & reach over neck w/ right hand. Grasp neck strap from your left hand & pass entire halter back over horses neck. Slide nose band of the halter up over nose. Buckle halter to neck strap. Rings of correctly applied halter don't press tightly against horses face. Straps are away from eyes. Attach lead rope to center ring just beneath horses nose.

Injections or minor technical procedures for pigs

Hold pig by rear legs & lift body in the air so that front legs touch the ground & its back is centered between your legs. Place pigs head between your knees.

How to apply humane twitch w/ only 1 tech

Holds twitch w/ right hand while holding lead line w/ left hand place ends of your finger through plier-like end of twitch. Grasp horses upper lip w/ left hand & slide twitch high up around lip. Tighten plier-like handles of twitch w/ your right hand. Clip rope to the halter to hold twitch in place & restrain the horses lead w/ the halter & lead line.

Approaching a horse

Horses can see directly in front of directly behind them. Make sure you are seen & heard. Very temperamental & easily startled or frightened Best approach from left side. Ears back & head lowered may signal agg. never approach from the rear. Keep 12 ft of distance from back legs

Equipment for handling & restraining pigs?

Hurbles Pig Catcher Hog snare V-trough Snubbing rope Hobbles

Nose lead

Large metal tongs w/ large ball-shaped ends serves to control the head when a halter does not. Place ball-shaped ends into nostrils to gently squeeze the nasal septum. Tie the nose lead to 1 of the poles at front of castles chute. (If already have a nose ring) cross-tie can happen by attaching two lead ropes to the ring & tie them to opposite poles of the chute.

Pig catcher

Large, long handled clamp w/ a rope that holds the ends of the clamp shut. Apply the clamp to 1 of the pigs rear legs, then pull the rope to hold the clamp tight around the leg.

Goat facts

Least predictable of domestic animals. May kick or butt you. Require patience because very playful. Require very little specialized equipment.

Hobble

Leather strap fastened around a horses leg to restrict movement. Keep it from kicking. For agg. horses vet like chemical restraint best. Can make one out of length heavy rope. Can be used to keep horses foreleg in a flexed position. Used on one or two legs.

Administration of oral medication

Lift pig by front feet & hold it up w/ its rear legs remaining on the ground

2 methods to keeping a goat still during physical exam

Lifting a front foot helps restrain a goat; most goats will remain calm in this position Holding onto the goats chin or bread may keep it in position for short periods of time, but goats may become upset if it is held for very long.

Hog Snare

Looks & functions like dog share. Long metal handle enclosing a rope, cable, or chain loop that protrudes from one end of the handle. Large pigs

Equipment for Goats

Most goats wear neck chains or heavy flat leather collars. Neck chain is made of sturdy flat links so it cant get caught on a fence. Attach a lead to the goats neck gear to lead it.

Sheep facts

Most timid domestic animal. No natural defense. Response to danger by running. Take blood from jugular Primary goal is to hold it in position without harming it.

Calf handling & restraint

Mother cow may charge if she sense that her calf is in danger (Picking up 80 pounds or less) place one arm in front of the animals chest & your other arm behind the animals hindquarters. Once your arms around the calf, lift it.

Stock

Narrow enclosure that immobilizes horses for treatment. Metal bars or wooden planks. Usually front & rear gate. Can't go inside w/ horse

Pig facts

Not athletic & fragile skeletal systems strong jaws so strong bites. Poor vision & easily scared.

Approaching & capturing pigs?

Pigs overheat easily and are likely to die of heat stroke. They dont sweat or pant, to cool off sprinkle water on it & avoid sudden movements. Gently prodding a herd of pigs-with a stick or cane, lightly tapping pig at the shoulder. Handlers can use (hurdles), flat shield-like pieces of plastic or plywood about 3ft sq To direct a group of pigs into an enclosure. A single pig can be lassoed w/ a rope, rope is tied into a harness to maneuver the pig to another location.

How to restrain a goat on its side?

Position yourself along side the goats. Reach one arm over the goats neck. Grasp the legs closest to the body. Gently lift the goat. This will force the goat off balance and onto its side.

Hobbles (cattle)

Prevent cows from kicking out sideways. Milking hobbles look like leg irons. 2 metal bands connected by a length of chain. Place on rear legs, above the hock. Chain should pass in front of the legs. Make the, by ropes

Equipment for handling sheep

Requires very little specialized equipment Shepherds crook can immobilize an animal. Place hook high up on the animals back leg, then grab & hold the animal quickly to prevent it from struggling & injuring it's leg.

Snubbing rope

Restrain a captured pigs head. A rope w/ a loop at one end, tied w/ a slipknot so that the loop can be tightened. Place one end of the rope in front of the pigs snout. Wait for the pig to open its mouth. When the pig opens its mouth, slip the loop into its mouth & push up the loop quickly so that it rests just behind the tusks. Tighten the loop across the top of the pigs snout. Either hold the snubbing rope or tie it to a stationary object. Pig may chew at the rope. Temperamental pigs can cross-tie w/ two snubbing ropes.

Hobbles

Restrain a pig on its side. Can fashion them using the pigs snubbing rope using its free end as a casting rope. Pass this end around the pigs rear leg, making a half-hitch. Pull up on the rope to draw the pigs leg toward its nose, forcing the animal off its feet. Never apply hobbles to a pig that isnt already wearing a snubbing rope.

Goat restraint for venipuncture?

Restrain how you would a dog. Hold the goats chin or beard w/ 1 hand & place your other arm around the goats neck to hold it in place. Put pressure on the site

Cross tying

Restricts side to side movement. Get relaxed w/ this restraint. Ensure ropes are placed high so it can't rear up & entangle itself. Always tie ropes so you can release it quickly.

Flehmen response

Ritual of urine sniffing. Component of the libido in male animals. Cats do this (gape) extends the head, dilate the nostrils & curl its upper lip.

Fowl facts

Roasters can be quite agg. Hans may attack to remove eggs from her nest.

Tail jacking & tying

Serves to distract or prevent animal from swinging its tail in your face as you work, tail tying is same as horses. Tail jacking is a method of lifting the tail. Handle carefully to avoid fracturing grasp w/ both hands. Keep tail in line w/ the spine & not out to either side Tail tying located the end of the last vertebra in the tail (cranial 1 third) at a spot about 18 inches from 1 end of rope, lay the rope across the tail so that it lays over the end of the last vertebra. Fold rest of tail up & over rope. Pass short end of rope behind the tail; making long sharp loop in the rope as you go. Bring loop over folded tail. Pass the loop through the rope that's looped under the tail. Pull the longer end of the rope to tie the tail to the cows front leg or neck

Casting rope

Serves to place cow at its side. Several ways to use it & all of the, require the cow to wear a strong halter or nose lead. (Popular method) place rope across cows back so that its ends fall between the forelegs & cross under the sternum pull rope ends up. Let ends drop down so that they fall near the animals rear legs. Cross the rope ends over the cows back. Use rope to guide the cattle into position on its side. Pass the ends of the rope through the cartels rear legs & pull

Catching net

Serves to remove individual birds net is usually attached to the end of a long-handled wooden pole. Net placed over the bird & then turned up, trapping the bird inside. Nets are least likely to injure the bird but must be used gently.

How to properly lead a horse

Stand on horses left, hold lead rope in right hand about 18 inches from horses head Hold remainder of lead rope in loose loops. Make sure lead passes in front of body, don't wrap around your hand. Keep body in zone between animals head & left shoulder.

Restraining adult sheep

Stand on the animals side. Place one arm around the sheeps neck at the shoulder & w/ your other arm, reach over the animal & under its abdomen as far as possible, depending on the animals size. Stand behind the sheep so that it's back rests against your legs. Gently lift the sheep & tilt it back onto its rump. Tilt the sheets body slightly back so that it's off balance.

V-trough

To restrain pigs on their back. Made of plywood. Capture pig, lay pig on its back in the trough. Attach a rope to one front leg. Pass rope under the trough & tie it to the other front leg. Repeat on the back feet. The trough can be titled to the desired position.

Transporting pigs

Travel as a group, allow maximum air circulation between the pigs. Truck beds & trailers are used for this purpose. Make pigs & females w/ litters travel separately.

Tail tying

Tying method involves the tail, can be used to move the horse. Never tie the end of tail rope to a fixed object. Tail tie is used to attach tail to the animals own body. Locate end of the last vertebra in the tail. Lay a piece of rope across the tail at the site & fold the rest of the tail up & over the rope. Pass one end of rope behind tail, making a long sharp loop in the rope as you go. Bring loop over the folded tail & pull it tight through the rope that's looped around the tail. You can then use the other end of the rope to the tail to the horses front leg or neck.

Cattle chute

Typical cattle examination area channels animal into smaller areas. Can be an alleyway just big enough for one cow. At one end is the cattle chute at other ends is a gate to be closed once cow enters the alley. Front has opening that holds cows head in (stanchion) & poles on either sides for cross-tying.

Horse front foot

Used to examine hooves. Stand along side horse, close to its body, facing toward the back end. Place 1 hand on the horses shoulder. Firmly run other hand down horses leg. Keep down the leg to the fetlock, just above the hoof. Place Palm under the fetlock & wrap your fingers around the joint. Lift the foot while gently squeezing it. Use your shoulder to lean into the animal this makes the horse to shift its weight onto its other three legs. Bring the foot up & slightly out of the side.

Catching hook

Usually about 5 inches long& attached to a long-handled pole. Loop hook around birds leg.