|
Beef Cattle Institute offers session on cattle welfare through proper handlingKansas As part of the International Beef Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare, offered by the Beef Cattle Institute May 28 to 30 at Kansas State University, a pre-symposium session will be offered May 28 on cattle welfare through proper cattle handling. Cattle handling is an important aspect to cattle production. Many producers continually strive to improve handling methods and facilities to decrease the stress of moving cattle in pastures or dry lots. Dr. Tom Noffsinger, a veterinarian and an independent feedlot facility design and stockmanship consultant, believes there are five freedoms that must be given to cattle on a daily basis. These are freedom from hunger and thirst, environmental stress, disease, anxiety and injury. "As an industry we need a spirit of working together, knowing that every step in the production, marketing, transportation and handling episode affects the industry's ability to provide these five freedoms," said Noffsinger, who will lead the pre-symposium session. "This session will create an awareness that will allow the handler to understand the basics of prey animals and the power of the handler to effectively communicate with cattle," Noffsinger said. Also assisting with the session will be Lynn Locatelli, a veterinarian from Benkelman, Neb.; Clint Hoss, who works at a western Nebraska feedlot; and Curt Pate, a Montana rancher and stockman who is internationally recognized as a horse training clinician. "Proper cattle handling has a powerful impact on the health and performance of our production animals," Locatelli said. "There is a tremendous amount of lost performance that occurs as a consequence of poor handling; it is time to prevent these losses. Proper cattle handling allows cattle to perform at their genetic potential." Being proactive is the best way to handle the issues at hand, according to Ken Winter, owner-manager of Winter Feed Yard, Dodge City. "I think that seminars and help from people like Dr. Noffsinger and Dr. Locatelli help the industry to do a better job handling cattle. We all need to stay up-to-date on the handling issues," Winter said. The pre-symposium session will include a presentation and live cattle demonstrations, which will show applications of low stress handling concepts as a dimension of management that enables caregivers to have positive effects on cattle health and performance. The goal will be to encourage caregivers to understand more about cattle in order to apply handling concepts during calving, new cattle acclimation, processing, pen riding and sick cattle management. Ed Gough of Lane County Feeders, who uses Noffsinger's cattle-handling methods, said that if stakeholders will approach Noffsinger's techniques with an open mind, they will learn that it is better for the cattle and the handler. "He also knows from firsthand experience that if you do it right, it will help your bottom line. If you treat cattle with low stress handling, they will do better in all aspects of production," Gough said. "You get good at Drs. Noffsinger and Locatelli's way of doing things; it is just as efficient and you can get the same amount of work done in the same amount of time," Gough said. "You will treat your cattle and yourself better." Cow-calf, stocker and feedlot producers are welcome to attend the pre-symposium session and the symposium on the K-State campus. Registration information is available at www.isbcw.beefcattleinstitute.org. "We're proud to offer this event for our producers and practitioners in Kansas and surrounding states," said Dan Thomson, who leads K-State's Beef Cattle Institute. "We have ranchers from Hawaii and many other states already registered to attend." "If you are a producer and want a quality learning experience to help your ranch or feedlot, this is the event for you," Thomson said. "We will be offering live demonstrations on how to move cattle on horseback or on foot. We also will have a working facility set up to better demonstrate the do's and don'ts of moving cattle through such facilities." 5/5/08 Date: 5/1/08
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
