Webinar on Cattle Handling with Professor Temple Grandin

Introduction

• Host: Steve West from AHDB Dairy
• Speaker: Professor Temple Grandin, Colorado State University
• Topics: Cattle handling, stockmanship, behavior
• Audience: Both beef and dairy farmers
• Q&A session available, focus on cattle-related questions
• Future webinars: Neil Chesterton (Feb 16), Europe Driessen (Mar 2)
• Opportunities for dairy farmers to join focus groups

Speaker Introduction: Professor Temple Grandin

• Renowned animal behaviorist and designer of cattle handling facilities
• Known for work on flight zones and grazing behavior
• Made significant contributions to reducing stress on animals
• Recognized by Time Magazine, People Magazine, New York Times, and more
• Authored over 400 articles, TED talk in 2010

Key Topics and Insights

Observational Skills

• Importance of being a good observer in stockmanship
• Example: Eclipse shadows on campus

Cattle Behavior and Emotions

• Animals live in a sensory-based world
• Cattle have emotions such as fear
• Importance of handling cattle calmly and observing their body language

Handling Techniques

• Use of feed buckets for calm handling
• Avoid rewarding pushing and shoving
• Importance of not frightening cattle with sudden novelty

Lighting and Shadows

• Cattle can be affected by shadows, direct sunlight, and new objects
• Ensure facilities are well-lit and free of unexpected items

Facility Design and Handling Systems

• Importance of good layout and design for cattle handling facilities
• Use of solid outer fences and appropriate crowd pen size
• Techniques for moving cattle calmly (e.g. flight zone principles)

Stockmanship and Training

• Importance of good stockmanship
• Benefits of training cattle with rewards
• Handling scoring and improvement methods

Behavioral Principles and Welfare

• Core emotional systems: fear, separation distress, seek, play
• Importance of positive first experiences for animals
• Using non-slip flooring and ensuring facilities are safe

Handling Cattle Challenges

• Issues with TB testing and minimizing stress
• Dealing with cattle that have had negative experiences
• Strategies for handling leader and dominant cows

Facility Design Details

• Curved facilities vs. bud box designs
• Importance of using small groups and respecting flight zones

Conclusion and Next Steps

• Emphasis on continuous learning and adherence to handling guidelines
• Future webinars and focus groups for more detailed discussions
• Reminder of the importance of both technical facility design and human management skills

Closing Remarks

• Gratitude from Steve West and feedback invitation
• Encouragement to participate in future webinars and provide feedback

This summary captures the main points and key insights from the webinar, intended to serve as a study aid for the topics discussed by Professor Temple Grandin.