Oversee Pen Maintenance Programmes

Animal Handling Infrastructure

Having access to good handling infrastructure / facilities goes a long way to create a safe environment in which to handle animals. Points to bear in mind when designing and constructing handling facilities are:

• Use strong and durable materials that can withstand heavy and sudden weight, are easy to clean and do not readily splinter.
• Ensure that floor surfaces are suitably rough to prevent slipping of animals and humans.
• Construct handling facilities under cover or in a shady and wind protected area so that workers do not tire too quickly and animals do not get agitated in extreme weather conditions.
• Fences and gates need to be in a good state.
• Electric fences need to give a good strong signal to be effective - check the volt reading regularly. Avoid chasing animals towards an electric fence. They will ignore the fence and break it.
• Different species need different sizes and shapes of infrastructure.
• All movable parts of the handling facility need to be free-moving (grease or oil joints and hinges from time to time)
• All stables, boxes, crates etc. that are to be used to contain animals, need to be thoroughly checked before they are used. Special attention should be given to sharp objects and loose wires in the handling areas.

For successful beef production, certain facilities are necessary. These facilities must simplify the management of the system and limit labour to the minimum. It must be functional and economical and a safe environment for the animals, as well as a safe working environment for the handlers.

Handling Facilities

In the planning of handling facilities, the objective of the facility must be taken into account. The handling facility for commercial cattle will possibly differ from that of a facility for a stud-farm and definitely from that of a feedlot. In a well-designed handling facility, animals can be gathered safely, sorted and controlled. Depending on the size and type of the facility, there are basically five essential components in a well-designed facility:

Click here to view a video that explains the Taltec systems for cattle handling ease.

Sorting Pens

Cattle are collected from the field or feeding pens, before being handled. The size of the sorting pens must be as large as the largest group of animals to be handled at a time. Each animal needs approximately 2m² of space in the sorting pen. The shape of a sorting pen depends on the total lay-out of the facility. In feedlots however, provision must be made for a separate recuperation camp. In large feeding pens, a separate infirmary (sickbay) with a crush pen and special facilities will even be necessary.

Crush Pens

Crush pens are used to drive cattle from the sorting pens to the loading platform. It is usually provided with moveable gates, used for leading the cattle into the crush, by making the area behind them smaller. Cattle will move into the crush more effectively if handlers wait until the crush is half filled before they drive in more cattle. This will create enough space for the cattle to follow a leader into the crush. As cattle usually walk along a fence and are inclined to stand in corners, a round crushing corral is usually better than a rectangular one, as it helps with the flow of cattle.

Mobile Crushes

Mobile crushes are generally used for field work where permanent handling facilities are not close to pens, or where it is not viable. It can also be used to treat sick animals in a camp. Mobile crushes can basically be used anywhere in the field next to a fence. Such a crush will obviously have to be easily assembled and transported.

Working Area

The working area is at the end of the crush. This is the area where the animals are handled and can contain the following items:

• Neck clamp
• Body clamp
• Scale

The working area must preferably be provided with a roof and concrete floor. The floor must be made coarse to prevent the animals from slipping. If an earth floor is used, it must be such that it can drain easily and not be trampled into slush - it should therefore be thoroughly compacted. The work area components must be arranged in such a way that the openings and gates are combined, to make access to the cattle possible. A gate that swings open from the side in the direction of the crush in order to block off the crush for other animals, but give access to the rump of the animal, is convenient. A comfortable work area must be provided in front of the animal.

Neck Clamp

A neck clamp is one of the most essential items in the working area and is used to hold the animal in position if work is done on it. Quite a few neck clamps are available on the market, with different opening mechanisms and different neck openings. Guard against delicate neck clamps made from poor materials. The shape of the neck clamp plays a major role in decreasing the vertical movement of the head. The locking mechanism of the neck clap must also have a fine setting. It is advisable to obtain the opinion of other farmers or owners about a certain product on a certain breed, before a neck clap is purchased.

Body Clamp

A body clamp is used for holding the animal firmly in position when working on it. The sides of the clap swing inwards to clamp the body of the animal. Some body clamps are provided with removable side plates for easier access to the animal.

Mobile Crushes

Mobile crushes are generally used for field work where permanent handling facilities are not close to pens, or where it is not viable. It can also be used to treat sick animals in a camp. Mobile crushes can basically be used anywhere in the field next to a fence. Such a crush will obviously have to be easily assembled and transported

Working Area

The working area is at the end of the crush. This is the area where the animals are handled and can contain the following items:

• Neck clamp
• Body clamp
• Scale

The working area must preferably be provided with a roof and concrete floor. The floor must be made coarse to prevent the animals from slipping. If an earth floor is used, it must be such that it can drain easily and not be trampled into slush - it should therefore be thoroughly compacted. The work area components must be arranged in such a way that the openings and gates are combined, to make access to the cattle possible. A gate that swings open from the side in the direction of the crush in order to block off the crush for other animals, but give access to the rump of the animal, is convenient. A comfortable work area must be provided in front of the animal.

Scales

The current emphasis on standardization and increasing economic pressure contributes to the situation where a high number of livestock have to be weighed several times during their lives. High demands are placed on scale operators and psychological and physical exhaustion gives rise to inaccurate results, rough handling of the animals and mistakes in information collected. Special attention must therefore be given to the choice and placing of a scale to ensure easy and effective handling of animals. The four basic categories of scales include:

• Spring balance scale
• Hydraulic scale
• Oil bath scale
• Electronic scale