How cattle react to a handler’s presence is governed by three principles: instincts, past treatment, and what is happening in the moment. Instincts are behaviors that an animal is born with. They have a natural instinct to either flee from, or fight, a predator. A mother with a newborn calf, and intact males, may chose fight over flight, when their natural instinct is to flee from what they perceive as danger.
Physiology
Their instincts and physiology give cattle advantages that have historically helped them protect themselves. Their eyes are set on the side of their head, which gives them a 310-degree field of vision. Also, their vertical vision is more limited than humans. If we hold our heads still and look down to the ground, and then look up as high as we can see, we have 140 degrees of vertical vision. Cattle only have 60 degrees of vertical vision. While they have a wider field of vision, they have difficulty focusing on an object. This is why when they encounter an obstacle, like a hose stretched across an alleyway, they will stop to raise and lower their head to try and get the object into focus. When you also consider that they are color blind, transitions from very bright areas to shadows will cause them to hesitate or completely attempt to avoid those locations.
Their ears allow them to hear noise at both a higher and lower frequency than humans, but similar to their eyesight, they have issues pinpointing a sound. Humans can identify a sound’s location within 5 degrees of accuracy, where cattle can get within 30 degrees. We relate this to when in the wild, they wouldn’t need to know the exact location of a predator, but only the general direction so they can flee away. Having a greater range of hearing makes them more sensitive to noise. This is why it is recommended to avoid excessive yelling and inducing metallic-like sounds.
Past Treatment
Although personal experiences may tell us otherwise, cattle do not have the ability to think but they do have the ability to learn. We know that our cows quickly become accustomed to our daily routine. If you are on a set milking schedule, many of the cows will be standing at the gate ready to head to the parlor when it is time. They may also be waiting at the bunk line when they hear the feed tractor start up.
There is also the negative side of this situation. Cattle have the ability to remember places where they have previously had a bad experience. There is sufficient literature to support the idea that, if given a choice, cattle will avoid locations where they have had bad experiences. In addition, there is also work that suggests that they can recognize specific people that have treated them badly. This is why you may see an animal react differently to specific members of the crew.
What is Happening in the Moment
Although I have said that cattle can’t think, we also know that they can only have one “thought” at a time. As a herdsman, you have to understand that whatever an animal is doing, or not doing, is directly related to what you are doing, or not doing. As I explained earlier, due to their natural instincts and physiology, cattle can become easily distracted. When you enter a pen, all of the cattle will acknowledge your presence and move to have you in their line of sight. This is the time you can start to ask them to move in the direction that you want them to move. Distractions can come in many forms. If while trying to get them to move, a tractor starts up outside the barn, their attention may become diverted so that you are no longer the focus of their attention. There could be a hose laying across the alleyway, or a shadow, that will change what they are thinking about. You have to give them time to understand what the new distraction is, and then regain their focus on you, before you can resume herding them in the direction you want them to go.
Why does all this matter? Many of you have made considerable investments in facility features that maximize cow comfort and cattle movement. In doing so, you are reducing cow stress that we know becomes silent drain on production and welfare. Whether we want to accept it or not, our mere presence causes stress in animals and if we handle cattle roughly, we can increase their stress level leading to health and production issues.
What can you do? In the cattle stockmanship world, we preach about using low-stress handling techniques. The first step is developing that understanding of your cattle’s instincts and physiology so that you can anticipate how they will react in a given situation. After that, it comes down to gaining experience in herding cattle. This is a skill that can be improved, regardless of your experience level.
As far as specific points to consider when herding cattle:
- Prior to moving a pen, inspect the path they will travel for any potential distractions. Did someone leave that hose out again? This there an area that transitions from bright light to a shadow during the middle of the day that you may need to address with lowing or raising a curtain? Did someone hang their jacket on a fence in the alleyway?
- Make sure that the cattle are focused on you so that they respond to what you are asking them to do. If they get distracted, give them a moment and then get them to focus back on you. This is also a part of not asking them to do more than one thing at a time.
- Avoid excessive noise. It is ok to make a little vocal noise to get their attention. You shouldn’t be consistently yelling. Don’t bang on gates. This is moving the animals by scaring them and will not help you in the moment or in the future when you try to move them again.
- Avoid excessive physical contact. Every now and then, you may have to twist a tail or give them a pat on the rump. Don’t be overly aggressive. If you are twisting the tail, don’t do it to the point it could break. Once they start moving, stop twisting their tail.
- Allow the cattle to move at their own pace. Cattle typically walk at about 2 mph. If you are in a hurry and get them to run, there is a chance for them to slip and injure themselves or slam into obstacles.
