Low Stress Animal Handling Improves Both Productivity and Animal Welfare Temple Grandin Department of Animal Sciences Colorado State University

Excitable cattle scored with different temperament measures have lower weight gains Excitable cattle poorer reproductive performance Many studies have replicated this result

Different Methods of Temperament Measurements Chute Score Works poorly if tightly held Electronic Exit Speed Walk Trot Canter Exit Speed (Vetters et al., 2013) 2 point exit speed scoring walk or trot, run, jump (Kasimanickam et al., 2014) Pen Scoring

Cattle that become agitated in the squeeze chute have lower weight gains Cattle that run fast out of the squeeze chute may perform poorly Voisinet et al.,1997, Fell et

Genetics influences temperament score Producers have been selecting for calm temperament to produce calmer, more productive animals Be careful to avoid reductions in foraging or mothering Temperament test scores are also changed by experience

Survey of Cattle Handling in Squeeze Chute in 28 Large Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado Feedlots Average Range Electric Prod % 3.7 0 to 45 Vocalization % * 1.3 0 to 6 Exit Falling % 0.8 0 to 2 Exit Stumble % 6.7 0 to 28 Miscaught % 4.2 0 to 16 Exit Run % 30.7 2 to 75 * No branding, castration, or dehorning R. Woiwode, 2015 Handling has improved

Advantages of Acclimating Animals to Handling Pigs easier to move and lower heart rate when acclimated to walking in alleys (Lewis et al., 2008; Geverlink et al., 1998)

Cattle handled quietly in the squeeze chute every day became calmer and will enter more easily each successive day Littlefield et al., 2001

Cattle Handling Acclimation Research Cattle handled carefully lower cortisol (Petherick et al., 2009) Heifers acclimated by walking through chutes improved reproductive performance (Cook et al., 2009, 2012) Training Brahman heifers to quietly walk through chutes produces calmer adults (Binstead, 1977; Fordyce, 1987)

Transport Acclimation Research Initial trip on a truck is more stressful than the 7 th or 9 th trip for both cattle and sheep. Stockman et al., 2011 Wickham et al., 2012

Animal memories are very specific. Acclimating cattle to close contact with people by feeding range cubes does not transfer to reduced temperament scores in the squeeze chute (Cook et al., 2009) Habituating an animal to a blue and white umbrella does not habituate an animal to other novel objects (Leiner and Fendt, 2011)

These objects are totally different pictures

Cattle perceive a man on a horse and a man on foot as two different things They need to be habituated to both

Acclimate Cattle to Different Vehicles and Going through the Chute

First experiences with new people, places, or equipment must be good Acclimating animals to handling reduces stress

New things are attractive when an animal is allowed to voluntarily approach, and scary when they are suddenly introduced

Animals That Fear People Less Productive Fear is a proper scientific term and it is used in the neuroscience literature Fearful sows, fewer piglets (Hemsworth, 1981) Fearful dairy cows, lower conception rates (Hemsworth, et al., 2000) Dairy cows that approach people, lower somatic cell counts (Fulwider et al., 2008)

An Example of Low Flight Zone Productive Dairy Cows That Approach People

Poor Handling Many Detrimental Effects Beef steers forced to run higher cortisol and lactate (Frese et al., 2015) and faster exit scores (Woiwode, 2015) Rough handling of feedlot cattle more bruises (Grandin, 1981) Cattle handling facilities with many acute bends and turns lower pregnancy rates compared to straight or semi-circular designs (Kasimanickam et al., 2014) High use of electric prods more downer pigs, higher lactate and glucose (Benjamin et al., 2001)

LOWER WEIGHT GAIN Miscatching on the animal s face, running cattle, whistling, and yelling Woiwode, 2015

Cattle and pigs with agitated behavior or multiple shocks with an electric prod in the stunning chute at the slaughter plant had higher lactate, tougher meat, and more PSE Gruber et al., 2010 Warner et al., 2007 Stockman et al., 2012 Edwards et al., 2010

A Good Attitude Towards Animals Improves Both Productivity and Handling Practices Seabrook, 1984, 2000 Training stock people improved attitudes towards animals and reduced negative behaviors (Hemsworth et al., 1994)

You Manage What You Measure Maintaining high standards requires continuous measurement Handling quality can be maintained by regular audits of your handling practices with an objective numerical scoring system PREVENTS BAD FROM BECOMING NORMAL

Scoring Animal Handling Percentage of animals that run Percentage of animals that fall during handling Percentage that stumble exiting squeeze Percentages of animals that vocalize during catching in the squeeze chute Percentage moved with electric prod

Comparison of Electric Prod Use Between Normal Fed Cattle and Hard to Handle Steers

Percentage of Beef Plants That Stunned 95% or More Cattle with the First Shot USDA survey prior to industry wide auditing McDonald s Audits started Continued auditing by major customers Continuous auditing maintains good performance

HACCP principles same as food safety Directly observable things that are outcomes of bad practices or bad facilities Not a paperwork audit

Three Types of Variables for Auditing Animal Welfare 1. Animal based outcome measure (continuous variables) 2. Prohibited practices (discreet variable) 3. Input-based engineering variables (discreet variable)

Example: Lameness is an Outcome of Many Bad Conditions Agitated Cattle Scuff Hooves (toe abscesses) Rapid Growth Poor Leg Conformation Poor Foot Care Foot Disease Injuries Beta-Agonists Hot Weather

Poor Leg Conformation Causes Lameness and Difficulty Walking Correct Collapsed Poor Straight Post Poor

The pig has bad leg conformation Beef should not repeat this mistake

Corkscrew foot A genetic defect in cattle Photo by L.A. Horstman, DVM, Purdue University, 2010

Examples: Prohibited Practices Poking sensitive areas to move animals Dragging downer cows or bulls Beating animals See video Proper Use of Livestock Driving Tools

Example: Input Base Measures Measures Space Requirements for Feeders and Waterer Space Requirements for Transport Stunning Equipment Specifications

Calm Animals Easier to Handle Photo by Sherry Taylor

20 to 30 Minutes Required to Calm Down

Fearful Cattle Heads up Ears alert Ears pinned back Defecation Tail switching Eye white

Animals may refuse to move into the sun

Cattle may refuse to move when they see the white jug and the red car

Tie up loose chain ends that scare animals

Cattle may refuse to enter a dark building

Skylights installed in the walls will improve cattle movement into an existing dark building

Allow the Leader Time to Look at the Puddle

If cattle balk at the backstop gate, tie it open

In Corrals Move Small Groups into the Crowd Pen

Good Handling Requires More Walking

Fill Crowd Pen Half Full

The Flight Zone is the Animal s Safety Zone

Animals turn away when the handler enters the flight zone

Solid Outer Fence Open Inner Fence People must stay outside the flight zone unless moving animals

If an animal rears, back up and get out of its flight zone

Optimal Chute Length for Following Behavior

Cardboard on the Back Half of Squeeze Chute Blocks Vision of a Close Person

Solid vs. Open sides Open Sides Must maintain people free zone around it Requires more skill Cattle acclimated to low stress handling Solid Sides Outer perimeter to block view of activity and vehicles Wild cattle Less skilled people

Curves reduce walking Outer perimeter solid sides most important

Curved systems block view of squeeze chute operator Animals will turn back in the same direction they came from

Simple Round Crowd Pen Handler Works the Pivot Point

Work Cattle From Crowd Gate Pivot

Bud Box Joe Stookey, 2014

Use Flags, Paddles or No Driving Aid An Electric Prod is NEVER the Primary Driving Aid

Curves reduce walking Outer perimeter solid sides most important

Design Concepts Simple, Economical Requires more Stockmanship skill More Expensive Easier for unskilled people to use

Behavioral Principles of Restraint Non slip flooring Prevents fear of falling No sudden jerky motion Optimal pressure not too tight, not too loose Block vision (grazing animals)

Dogs around the chutes stress cattle because they cannot move away. They may also teach cattle to kick

Non-Slip Flooring is Essential Animals get agitated when they slip Squeeze chutes, stocks, scales, unloading ramps Steer coming out of squeeze chute