In this episode, guest host Dr. Julia Herman, an AABP member on staff at National Cattleman’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Check-Off, and the chair of the AABP Animal Welfare Committee, is joined by Dean Fish and Curt Pate to discuss stockmanship. Stockmanship encompasses the appropriate care and handling of cattle and is applicable to all aspects of the cattle industry. It is well-known that proper handling of cattle positively impacts their experience in handling facilities. Good stockmanship is important not only to decrease stress, but also is an important part of human safety when dealing with large animals. 

Our guests discuss their definition of stockmanship as well as how to implement behavioral change in farm and ranch staff. Veterinarians can be involved with training employees in good stockmanship practices as well as becoming advocates and defenders of the cattle in our care. We discuss appropriate handling of cattle on cow-calf ranches, feedyards and dairy farms. Stockmanship involves not only knowing the flight zones and safe handling of cattle, but implementing feel, timing and balance to the pressure points to move cattle with care.  

Resources:

·         Beef Quality Assurance - https://www.bqa.org/ 

·         Bud Williams Stockmanship and Livestock Marketing - https://stockmanship.com/ 

·         Curt Pate Stockmanship - Livestock handling demonstrations, clinics, and on-site training for livestock businesses - https://curtpatestockmanship.com/ 

·         Lee Jones 2020. Providing all the needs that define stockmanship. - https://www.progressivecattle.com/topics/herd-health/providing-all-the-needs-that-define-stockmanship 

·         Mike Bolton, 2012. Dairy Stockmanship: What is it and why is it important? - https://www.progressivedairy.com/topics/herd-health/dairy-stockmanship-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important 

·         National Dairy FARM Program – Dairy Stockmanship - https://nationaldairyfarm.com/producer-resources/dairy-stockmanship/ 

·         Ron Gill – Effective Stockmanship education and resources - http://effectivestockmanship.com/ 

·         Stockmanship and Stewardship – Regional events focusing on live animal demonstrations and expert presentations - https://www.stockmanshipandstewardship.org/ 

·         Ron Gill & Rick Machen 2016. Cattle Handling Pointers Stockmanship and Low-Stress Handling - https://effectivestockmanship.com/PDFs/CattleHandlingPointers-7-18-16.pdf   

·         Temple Grandin - Livestock Behaviour, Design of Facilities and Humane Slaughter - http://www.grandin.com/ 

·         University of Minnesota 2021. How to properly handle cattle and other farm animals - https://extension.umn.edu/dairy-handling-and-best-practices/basic-stockmanship