Topic Objectives:

1. Topic Objectives: • Upon completion of this lesson, the student will be able to: • Identify animal behavioral patterns that will make animals easier and safer to handle. • Special Materials and Equipment: Supplemental Handout #1 • References: • Craig, James V. DOMESTIC ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. Ensminger, M.E. THE STOCKMAN'S HANDBOOK. Grandin, Temple. FARM ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. • Evaluation: Quiz by instructor and a grade for a diagram or drawing of a livestock working or loading area.

2. The Way You MOOOOVE CLF 3400: Large Animal Production CLF 3403: Animal Behavior Alayna Renner AgEd 410 Fall 2013

3. Quiet and Efficient Handling 1. Will reduce stress and injuries to both handlers 2. Rough handling and rough transportation can cause: a. Increased bruising in meat animals b. Lower conception rates c. Suppressed immune functions d. Decreased weight gain in both meat and breeding animals e. Isolation behavior which may contributed to other problems as listed above

4. Behavioral Patterns That Affect Animal Handling 1. GREGARIOUS BEHAVIOR: refers to the flocking or herding instinct of certain species a. Most often in sheep • More evident in the white-face breeds • Flocking instinct makes them easier to herd on open range Image By: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/03/powers-of-swarms/4/

5. Behavior Patterns Cont’d b. Horses: like to be in proximity of other horses • Benefit: trail rides and in group activities • Disadvantage: riding or trying to work a horse alone c. Cattle/sheep: visual signs of stress when isolated • May attempt to jump/go through fences • Sensory contact but no physical contact with herd-mates

6. What other behaviors do animals demonstrate that can be used to understand how to properly handle them? Anger/Aggression Behaviors: pawing, flared nostrils, charging, loud bellowing, fast/jerking movements, ears go back, bristling hair Compliant Behaviors: lowered head, licking, slow movements, relaxed tail, ear relaxed and moving

7. Leader-Follower Behavior 1. Livestock exhibit a strong tendency to follow a. Highly motivated to maintain visual contact with each other 2. The young follow their mother or "leader" in the herd a. The older ewes with most descendants b. Not always the most dominant or aggressive animal in herd c. Animal handler can move animals more easily by being a "following-stimulus" leader

8. Movement and Restraint in Strange Surroundings 1. Large domestic animals: a) Easily disturbed by loud or UNUSUAL noises b) Extremely sensitive sense of smell c) Visual animals - what they see can frighten them d) Will balk at: 1. Flapping objects 2. Water 3. Shadows Image by: http://www.tucsonazrealestateblog.com/images/cattlegrate.jpg

9. Electric Prods 1. Use sparingly on cattle a. Only when absolutely necessary!! 2. Never use on pigs or sheep! 3. Limit use to: a. Truck loading b. Single file chutes leading to the squeeze chute 4. Use other methods before resorting to electric prod Image by: http://www.rexano.org/KeeperSafetyImages/Hot_Shot.JPG

10. Visual Field The visual field of selected species: _____________________________________________ SPECIES RANGE OF VISION _____________________________________________ Cattle/swine: 300 degrees Sheep: 270 degrees (fleece on the face causes a decreased visual field). Horses: 270 degrees _____________________________________________ Image by: http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2013/06/learning-to-ride-horse-safely.html

11. Facilities and Behavior • Sides of all ramps, chutes, and working pens should be solid 2. Animals should see only ONE pathway of escape a. The direction that you want them to go • Eliminate strong contrasts of light and shadow in the path 4. Eliminate outside distractions Image By: http://www.grandinlivestockhandlingsystems.com/feedyard/feedyard.html

12. Facilities and Behavior Cont’d Image By: http://www.noblepanels.com/cow-cutter.html 3. Round pens have been used for handling many animals • Horses, sheep, and wild animals 4. Active and excitable animals are less likely to be injured in circular enclosures • None will become trapped in a corner 5. Diagonal sorting pens and curved chutes with gates making wide angles are recommended • Avoid right angle corners and blind alleys which slows movement

13. Flight-Zone 1. The space surrounding the animal that, if entered by another animal or human, will elicit avoidance or escape behavior Image By: http://www.grandin.com/behaviour/principles/flight.zone.htmll

14. Image By: http://www.grandin.com/behaviour/principles/flight.zone.html

15. Facilities Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA_DlRg9jhc

16. 3 1 4 2

17. Loading Ramps Maximum Recommended Angle for Loading Ramps ________________________________________ SPECIES ANGLE OF RAMP ________________________________________ Cattle 20 degrees Swine 15 degrees Sheep may be slightly steeper than cattle ________________________________________ Image By: http://www.grandinlivestockhandlingsystems.com/feedyard/feedyard.html

18. Tonic Immobility or "Animal Hypnosis" 1. Trance-like or "hypnotic" state for many animals For example: a. Sheep are set upon their rumps and held for shearing b. Poultry are held upside down by their legs Image By: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Poultry-show-comes-down-to-breast-meat-3357232.php

19. Animal Hypnosis cont’d 2. Three phases of behavior when animals are caught and forcefully restrained: a. Initially, they struggle to escape b. If that is not effective, they become immobile c. They recover abruptly and again attempt to escape 3. May serve as a defensive response against predation after being caught

20. Activity! Using the information from the PowerPoint and the Temple Grandin video, create and sketch out you OWN animal handling facilities for a farm, processing plant, the school farm, etc. Please include chutes, loading chutes, alley ways, the type of fences, and a list of things to keep away from the handling area