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