Handling methods and facilities to reduce stress on cattle

A combination of well trained handlers and properly designed facilities will reduce stress on cattle and improve both handling efficiency and productivity of cattle. Solid sides on both the single file chute and the squeeze chute will facilitate cattle movement and reduce lunging at the headgate. To reduce balking, distractions which impede cattle movement must be eliminated from handling facilities. Some of the most common distractions which make cattle balk in a chute are: a jiggling chain hanging in a chute, shiny reflections on metal, puddles, shadows, seeing a visible person and a high pitched noise. Cattle should be moved into the handling facility in small groups and the crowd pen should be filled only half to three-quarters full.