Low Stress Stockmanship


Working Cattle on the Range

Using low-stress handling techniques, ranchers should be able to graze their livestock in ways that will improve riparian areas, water quality and rangeland health, important in today's high profile ranching arena.  By accommodating the natural behavioral characteristics of livestock, its is possible to gain increased control with less stress on the animals.  (Abstract from Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Project Report. Tim Westfall is the Technical Advisor/Range Specialist)


Bunching them up

Why Place Cattle?

  • Keep cattle out of riparian areas by teaching them to prefer grazing the uplands
  • Improved range utilization
  • Vegetation management – herd effect
     


    Grazing Academy demo
     

Why do animals stay where we put them?

  • Feel safe and comfortable
  • Area is known as their comfort zone
  • Physical factors such as shade, close access to water, lush forage
  • Psychological factors such as feeling safe from predators
  • Feeling comfortable in the area
    Cattle will lay in grazed out riparian areas because that is where they feel comfortable
    Chasing cattle out of the riparian area  makes the uplands seem like a hostile place and they return to the riparian area


Driving the Herd

Cattle in Nevada

Working cattle on the range

Pressuring from the side

Tim drifting cattle in

On the Range...Low Stress Stockmanship

Cattle working

Placing cattle with dogs

Moving the herd

Waiting to load

Moving Day

Placing cattle

Trailer loading

Bringin em to the corral

Bunching them up

People and dogs working together

Turning the herd

Students taking cattle to the range

Low Stress Stockmanship with dogs

Horseback trailer loading

Demonstrating Trailer Loading

Clearing the corral

Coming up the side to slow movement

Going against the direction

Grazing Academy Demo

Learning to work cattle

Dog work

Starting the pup

Holding the herd

Teaching the run out

Turning the herd

Corral work

 

 

 
Copyright © Tim Westfall. All rights reserved.