By Jason Cavadini and Michael Geissinger et.al
Most graziers value pasturing their livestock because these systems work with small ruminants’ natural behaviors and flock instincts, reducing stress for both the handler and the animal. However, there are times when graziers need to work with livestock on the farmers’ terms, pushing the limits of the animals’ comfort zones. Moving animals to an unfamiliar area, sorting animals for weaning, corralling animals for health checks, or loading animals onto a trailer are all normal activities for a grazing operation that put pressure on livestock.
While everyday grazing activities may be the most enjoyable part of managing a grazing operation, these less routine animal handling activities may be an obstacle to the overall success or enjoyment of the operation if basic animal handling skills and facilities are lacking.
Livestock handling has the potential to make or break a grazing operation. So, developing good stockmanship skills and thoughtfully designing grazing infrastructure (fences, lanes, water, etc.) to accommodate low stress animal handling should be a top priority for each farm. This process takes time and patience. While effective small ruminant handling requires some initial investment in basic equipment, significant investments in handling facilities should be made incrementally as farmers learn how the principles below fit into their farms to avoid the costly mistake of building facilities that are not effective.
Source : wisc.edu