Preventing Undue Stress During Livestock Handling

By Mattie Sue Horchler

Increased animal stress can decrease productivity in multiple areas of a production cycle. Areas such as reproduction, health, and growth can be severely affected by periods of stress. Animal handling can be a significant stressor to many food animals, but it is unavoidable within the production cycle. However, understanding the basics of animal behavior can help reduce the stress that can accompany animal handling.

Understanding animal behavior is as simple as recognizing how their five senses differ from ours and how that affects their perception of the world. Most research in this area has been conducted by Dr. Temple Grandin. Her work, outlined in the book "Humane Livestock Handling" and published paper "Behavioral Principles of Livestock Handling," is the basis for this article.