Ever wish you could read a shed like a story? We walk through CowSignals® with vet consultant Owen Atkinson and coach-trainer Jo Speed, showing how behaviour becomes your best advisory tool. From the CowSignals® Diamond (feed, water, light, air, rest, and space) to the way cows actually see the world, we translate subtle cues into practical changes that raise performance and lower stress.

We dig into stress-free stockmanship and the Hemsworth cycle, where human tension fuels animal tension and back again. The fix is not force; it is design and timing. More even light across the shed, clean water with space to drink, feed pushed right to the end of the barrier, and fewer dead-ends all reduce “waiting cows.” That frees up time for eating and lying, which protects rumen health, feet, and milk.

We also unpack why cows prefer to see you with their left eye, how shadows and abrupt steps stall flow, and why quiet movement beats speed. Temple Grandin’s curved handling ideas show up here too, giving teams simple ways to keep cattle calm and safe.

Data now backs the craft. Time-lapse studies and emerging AI tools capture lying bouts, feed visits, and crowding so you can prove that a tweak actually worked. The pattern is consistent: fewer queues, more comfort, better time budgets, fewer lame days. That’s good for welfare, good for people, and good for the bottom line. Most importantly, stockmanship can be taught. The initial CowSignals® course gives everyone—from feeder to vet—a shared language to spot problems early and fix them fast, with advanced modules on handling, transition, fertility, youngstock, and hoof health ready when you are.

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For more information about our podcast visit www.chewinthecud.com/podcast or follow us on Instagram @chewinthecudpodcast. ChewintheCud Ltd is also on Facebook & LinkedIn. You can email us directly at [email protected]