Handling and restraint

Herd behavior

All herd animals will be calmer with a companion. Small ruminants and camelids are especially in need of companionship. Even keeping a buddy adjacent if not in the same pen will typically help. Goats can form strong friendship bonds

Moving or herding cattle

Calmly and quietly, point of balance, use of electric prods is reserved for encouraging animals to move when other methods have failed

Horse safety

Can be unpredictable depending on their history and training. Horses can kick with front or back legs. Front leg kicking is called "striking". Single leg strikes are the most common way to be injured in the front of the horse. Some horses will rear up and strike with both front feet. Stay close to the shoulder when in the front. Horses can kick straight back with hind legs, one or both "double barrel kick" or "single barrel kick". Horses can kick to the side (cow kick) and as far forward with a back leg as their eras

Casting swine

Control snout ,cast with ropes, some farms have crates, chutes, and head catches. V troughs

Rope twitches

Cord or rope attached to handle

Individual restraint of goats

Corner animal with hand on its jaw. Straddle with rump to the wall and squeeze with your knees. More athletic than sheep so tipping onto rump is difficult. Use the horns of mature goats for additional restraint. Never grab the hair. Take care when using horns. Can use the beard and horns at the base and can use collars. Do not restrain by ears. Can lay in lateral recumbency for short periods of times.

Diversionary shoulder roll

Grasp a fold of skin, roll and wiggle it

Restraint for camelids

More restraint may be needed than for goats. Apply ear pressure, keep a firm grip (similar to equine ear roll). Use miniature pony halter (be sure it does not pinch the soft tissue of the nasal passages

Diversionary eye press

Press on the upper eyelid, not easy if horse is head shy

Herd behavior of ruminants

Ruminants will typically follow the herd. Ruminants can refuse to move when they see people, shadows, sharp corners, darkness, or a dead end. Sheep, goats, and camelids have strong flock instincts. Typically move better as a group. Lag behind animals can indicate a health issue

Herd behavior in sheep

Sheep have the strongest flock instinct and will jump. They can cause injury or a breakout of the enclosure. Sheep can make heroic attempts to rejoin the group. Livestock dogs will sometimes be kept with sheep but typically not alpacas and llamas because of the stress. Bovids, sheep, and alpacas typically retreat when strangers approach

Halter and lead rope for horses

Stand on the same side as the person performing the procedure. Approach from the left side. Never coil or drag the lead rope. Lead from the poll. Use the buddy system. Tie with a quick release knot on a short tie. Cross ties with a quick release clips are safe. Never wrap lead rope around hand, arm, or neck. Loop the lead rope over the neck before putting on a halter. When typing use 2 feet of rope, use a safety release knot, tie horses away from strange horses, and always untie a horse before taking off the halter

Leading a horse

Stand 12 to 18 inches away, hold 6 to 12 inches down the lead rope. Lead from the poll. Turn the horse away from you. Never try to outmuscle them. Always fold the lead in an accordion style

Stress on production animals

Stress can cause loss of production which results in lower profits. Increased feed requirements result in increased cost. Decreased immunity results in increased illness. Death results in lower profits

Sheep behavior

Timid, do not like to be petted, easily frightened, seldom aggressive, males are aggressive

Camelid behavior

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

Flight zone

Amount of space the animal will allow between itself and the threat before it moves. Varies by species, presence of offspring, confinement size, individual animal, threat level, previous interactions, etc. To keep animals calm stay on edge of flight zone and move in slowly

Piglet restraint

By back legs. Gentle but firm, do not chase or catch by ears, front legs, or tails. Squealing upsets sows

Covering the eyes equine

Cover on same side as the procedure, do not cover the eye (cup eye). Blindfolding should be removed easily, one or both eyes can be covered, can tuck into a halter, some animals will be resistant

Diversionary petting

Firm patting or petting, talking soothingly

Handling a foal

First you must catch and control the mare, leading the mare means leading the foal, naturally follow dam. Controlling the mare is important for personnel safety, mare could be protective. She must always be restrained while handling the foal. Approached the foal gently and purposefully. Typically do not enjoy much human contact. One arm around foal shoulders or base of the neck, control hind end by placing your arm around the hindquarters or using a tail hold. Do not throw goals to the ground unless sedated

Chain twitches

Flat chain loop attached to handle

Tail restraint

For fouls, small ponies, but not adults. Use to move, lift, or support the hindquarters.

Herd behavior or goats

Goats will scatter when frightened and tend to spread out more when grazing. Goats are curious of strangers

Facilities

Good facilities make a difference in the ease of handling and if animals are trained to handle the process. Ruminants and camelids do well with a system that funnels them into a single file or narrow room, but they have a good memory of both people and herd mates. They remember and associate negative experiences. Dairy cattle are easier to handle than beef cattle

Goat behavior

Gregarious, inquisitive, respond to human touch and affection, males are aggressive. Independent, social hierarchy, lack herding behavior

Equine capture

Halter, lead rope, physical restraint (use halter and lead rope), diversionary restraint (techniques to divert), and chemical restraint (drugs used to achieve appropriate level of restraint)

Camelid restraint

Halter, stocks, chutes

Large animals

Herd animals by instinct, hierarchy in the herd. Fight to establish and hold position. Prey animals are not aggressive but can become dangerous when threatened. Do not like to be singled out

Stress in cattle

Increased respiration, high mortality, teeth grinding, poor product quality, nervousness, frothing at mouth, open mouth breathing, poor growth rate, poor reproduction, increase flight zone

Low stress handling

Inherent fear of humans. 0-25 feet depending on the tameness of the animal. Dairy cattle will have about 5-10 feet flight zones and beef cattle will have about 15-25 feet flight zones. When humans are in the zone, cattle bunch together and move away. Pushing too hard results in stress and fear and cattle will flee. May jump fences or push through gates or handlers

Diversionary chain shank

Long leather strap with chain at end, used as a distraction. The correct usage is over the bridge of the nose, under the jaw, under the lip, severe use

Physical casting

Laterally recumbent in the large animal. Can be intentionally with a series of ropes. Sedatives or anesthetics can be used. Animal can do accidentally typically in a small space such as a stall

Diversionary foot elevation

Lift a foot to keep another on the ground. For wrapping, hosing, x-ray, etc.

Cria restriant

Like a lamb

Dangers

Livestock, chemical safety, environmental safety, animal disease, gain handling, building problems, fire safety

Herd behavior of llamas

Llamas are often used as guard animals for herds of sheep, goats, and alpacas. Livestock dogs are not kept with llamas

Human twitch

Metal clamp

Physical stocks

Narrow chute type system, keeps the horse from kicking. Some may need to be tranquilized, two gates

Diversionary twitches

Natural twitches are applied with the hands. Mechanical twitches are chains, ropes, or human. Works for a short procedure that is not terribly painful, 10 to 15 minutes

Equine behavior

Observe horse before approaching, they are individuals with idiosyncrasies and personalities. Be calm and confident. Some breeds are naturally more nervous or high strung. Highly developed social behaviors. Ranking of position within the herd (pecking order). Horses form bonds/friendships with other members of the herd. Mutual grooming scratching each other with their teeth (allogrooming, normal friendship behavior). Well handled horses will allow humans to enter their personal space

Individual restraint of sheep

Once in a small pen, first step is to control the head. Never grab the wool, painful damage to the fiber and meat (decreases value of both). Flex sheep's head to force into a sitting posture. Grasp forelimbs and rest weight of the sheep against your legs. Take are when using horns. Setting up, shepherd's crook, and halter

Lamb restraint

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

Safety

One of the most dangerous occupations (death rate: 21 workers per 100,000 and 110,000 disabling accidents per year). Reasons: human error, being tired, not paying attention, using poor judgement

Signs of aggression in horses

Pinning ears, stamping front legs, swishing or wringing tail

Subtle social signs in horses

Pinning ears, vocal signs

Haltering a horse

Place the nose band on first, pass the crown strap behind the ears, unloop the lead rope

Zoonosis

Preventing zoonosis. Cleanliness, vaccinations, quarantine

Physical cross tying

Prevents from rearing up. Helps keep front shoulder area stable, can still strike. Lead rope on each side of halter. Attached to stable hook on each side

Horses

Prey animals, can be fearful and therefor dangerous when trying to escape what they perceive as a threat. Equine field of vision is almost 360 degrees. Horses have 60 to 70 degrees binocular vision, both eyes are used to synchronously produce a single image. Judging distance directly in front is difficult without head movement. Horses have very limited vision in 3 areas (directly behind them, directly in front of nose, between eyes on the forehead). Horses will move their head quickly to compensate for blind spots. Make sure horses are aware of your presence

Herd behavior of rams and bucks

Rams and bucks can be very aggressive during breeding season. Watch intact males of all species

Capture and restraint of small ruminants (sheep, goats, camelids)

Risk for human and animal injury, bunch herd tightly then move as group. Work in groups of three or four animals. Similar predator-prey interactions as cattle. Observe from a distance to identify animals in need of medical attention

Bovine capture and restraint

Risks for human and animal injury. Before approaching, observe the herd from a distance and use low-stress handling. Move cattle by the pressure and release system and point of balance. Corral or other enclosure, nose lead, hobbles, lifting legs, tilt table, halter, head-gate or head-catch, squeeze chute, head-lock, tail restraint and tail jack, foot control and restraint, casting cows

Capture and restraint of swine

Risks for human and animal injury. Observe first, approach cautiously. Lesser herding instincts, move in herds of five or six, clear path, use pig board at all times. Use crowding technique in open pen systems. Use pig board to create third wall. Use two-person snare technique for venipuncture or more invasive procedures. Protect your ears. Football hold for piglets

Cattle restraint

Should never be underestimated, do not turn your back to them, dairy bulls and cows with calves in particular. Herd animals. First drive a group to a smaller working area. Second, crowd the animals in tub. Third, move them up an alleyway to the cute

Point of balance

Situated at the level of the animal's shoulder. If handler is in front of the point of balance, the animal moves backward. If the handler is in the back of the point of balance, the animal moves forward

Restraint for dehorning

Small kids are usually held in the lap for procedures such as dehorning

Swine restraint

Stubborn but smart. Herding instinct, vocal, easily heat stressed. Tapping on the back can show dominance. Not athletic but fast. Shows aggression by biting, barking, tusks. Herding can be difficult to do in an open area. Use boards. Blindfolding a pig causes it to walk backward. 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

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

Chemical restraint

The use of specific drugs to achieve the appropriate level of restraint for the protection of handlers and animal

Handling and restraint of cervids (deer)

Two main methods of restraining deer: chemical immobilization, chute system restraint

Physical hobbles

Typing rear legs for breeding. Can tie front legs and one rear and one front

Handling cattle

Use flight zone and point of balance knowledge. Move them gently and invade flight zone a few feet then allow animals to reestablish (repeat process). Calm and quiet deliberate movements. Quick, sudden or loud movements can cause animals to panic and attempt to flee. Good handling can decrease flight zone

Tail tie

Use rope of gauze, keeps tail from moving during vaginal or rectal procedure

Equine capture and restraint

Watch for blind spots and watch for warnings of impending kicks. Horses will typically stomp a foot, paw, or lift a leg as a warming. Stay close with a hand on the horses at all times. Staying on the side of the animals and not directly in front or behind them.

Restraint of equine

Watch for signs. Most expressive in ears: watch movement, pricked forward (alert), flicking constantly (nervous), pin ears back (angry or fearful). Second most expressive feature is tail: wringing or circling (nervous), straight down (pain or sleep), clamped tight (fear). They know if you are fearful. Speak calm and even toned. Offer bribes such as grain or treat. Caution feeding from hand, teaches them to nibble, they can bite