Cattle Handling and Stockmanship Influence on Animal Performance

Sep 01, 2022

By Bill Halfman

We often hear and see reports on how sickness or the use of technologies such as fly control, implants, ionophores, and others influence animal performance and profitability.

Low-stress cattle handling methods have been discussed and promoted for many years, but the influence on animal performance is not often part of those discussions. Some research has been done to investigate the influence that stockmanship has on disposition and animal performance and more is being done.

Good stockmanship and low-stress handling methods include utilizing the animals’ natural tendencies to the handlers’ advantage while working or handling cattle. It includes calm and quiet action and movements by the handlers, changing and remodeling equipment and facilities if there are problem areas that impede cattle flow, and acclimating the . . .

Source : osu.edu

Video: Research in Action | Swine Cluster 4 - Activity 8: Precision Feeding with Dr. Aline Remus

Research in Action is a video series from Swine Innovation Porc that highlights the people and projects driving innovation in Canada's pork sector.

In this episode, Dr. Aline Remus (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) explains how precision feeding is helping producers improve efficiency, reduce feed costs and lower environmental impacts while supporting animal health and welfare.

As part of Swine Cluster 4 - Activity 8, this research is advancing precision livestock farming by tailoring nutrition to the needs of individual pigs or groups of pigs. The project aims to reduce feed costs, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses, and develop practical precision feeding systems that producers can confidently adopt on-farm.

By bringing together researchers from across Canada and around the world, this work is helping transform innovative research into practical solutions for a more sustainable and competitive Canadian pork sector.