3 Must-Have Pieces Of Equipment For New Cattle Owners
If you are interested in purchasing some cattle to take care of, whether it's for hobby or profit, you should research low-stress cattle handling techniques. These techniques are meant to keep the cattle comfortable and reduce the risk of injury; these techniques also protect farm hands and veterinarians. Certain pieces of cattle equipment can support low-stress handling methods. Here are three pieces of equipment you should consider investing in to keep your herd happy and healthy.
Rubber Floor Mats
If you need cattle to come in and out of barns and sheds, you should consider placing down rubber floor mats on any hard flooring, like concrete. Concrete is loud and could spook the animals. Plus, harder flooring materials may be slick, and your cattle may slip and fall since they may not be able to get a good grip with their hooves. Lastly, rubber floor mats can make standing in the farm more comfortable and reduce the risk hoof issues, such as laminitis. Laminitis is an inflammatory condition of the hoof and underlying coffin bone that can be incredibly painful.
Squeeze Chutes
A squeeze chute is a mechanism that gently restrains one cow from the rest of the herd. A squeeze shoot allows veterinaries to give:
- wellness checks,
- de-wormers,
- vaccines,
- hoof trimmings,
- and teeth cleanings
They can do this without stressing the cow out or putting themselves in harm's way. These chutes are connected to alleyways so that that a vet can easily check all the cattle as they queue up. Jacob Conley, DVM, says that you don't need to have an elaborate facility to handle cattle, but you do need a pen design that allows for an easy flow of cattle into a squeeze chute. There are squeeze chutes that are made to reduce noise so that cows aren't easily frightened.
Cow Brushes
Cow brushes can be large stationary brushes attached to pools in the middle of a pasture, or they can be attached to a motor and rotate the brush. It may seem silly to invest in this kind of equipment, but researchers at the University of British Columbia found that when cows had no access to brushes, they tended to rub their bodies and heads against water troughs and pen walls, which increased the risk of injury. Cow brushes are a great way to provide enrichment for your cattle and help them curb unwanted behaviors.
These are just a few pieces of equipment that can assist in low-stress cattle handling. Reach out to an agricultural equipment supplier in your area today for more details.
For more information on cattle equipment, contact a professional near you.
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