Ruminant Restraint and Ruminant Restraint and Basic Physical Basic Physical ExaminationExamination

QuestionQuestion

Livestock husbandry practices are dictated Livestock husbandry practices are dictated by the intended use of the animal. by the intended use of the animal.

Even though all cattle have similar Even though all cattle have similar instincts, husbandry practices can have a instincts, husbandry practices can have a significant effect on an animal’s behavior.significant effect on an animal’s behavior.

What are some of the basic behavioral What are some of the basic behavioral differences of beef cattle and dairy cattle differences of beef cattle and dairy cattle that affect the way that they are handled that affect the way that they are handled and restrained?and restrained?

Beef Cattle

Before the feedlot, spend most of their time in open range or field settings. Handled and restrained only

occasionally: vaccination and deworming.

Suspicious of humans and enclosures, and are usually more difficult to segregate and restrain.

Beef bulls are not apt to be as mean Beef bulls are not apt to be as mean and angry as dairy bulls, but they are and angry as dairy bulls, but they are far from gentle and should be far from gentle and should be handled carefullyhandled carefully

Dairy cattleDairy cattle

TemperamentTemperament nervous cownervous cow the docile cowthe docile cow the balkerthe balker the chronic kickerthe chronic kicker

Dairy bulls should Dairy bulls should never by trustednever by trusted

FacilityFacility dark barns are apt dark barns are apt

to be nervous.to be nervous. Better in a well Better in a well

lighted, well lighted, well ventilated oneventilated one

sedative or sedative or anesthetic anesthetic

Ferocious BullFerocious Bull

Dairy Cattle Dairy cattle are handled more

frequently and spend much less time in open settings. Dairy cows are milked twice

daily while lactating, and the lactation cycle lasts on average 8-10 months of the year.

Breeding is done by artificial insemination.

Calves are often reared in enclosures with frequent human contact.

In generaL, dairy cattle tend to be much easier to handle and restrain. (Caution on dairy bulls)

Most veterinarian procedures required Most veterinarian procedures required two stages of animal handling:two stages of animal handling:

1.1. The individual most be separate from the The individual most be separate from the herd.herd.

2.2. The individual must then be restrained The individual must then be restrained appropriately for the procedure appropriately for the procedure

Head restraint may may be applied to be applied to cooperative cooperative animals, without animals, without use of a chute, but use of a chute, but most individuals most individuals must be placed in a must be placed in a chute first.chute first.

"the part that "the part that draws goes under draws goes under the jaws.“the jaws.“

Not for beef

Cattle halters are Cattle halters are used to control the used to control the head by tying or head by tying or securing the head securing the head to an immovable to an immovable object with a rope object with a rope attached to the attached to the halterhalter

QUICK RELEASE

Restraints that divert attentionRestraints that divert attention

Tail restraintTail restraint Nose leadNose lead

IV injectionIV injection Udder surgeryUdder surgery Examine hoofExamine hoof

Restraint of the headRestraint of the head

Nose leads are Nose leads are another method of another method of head restrain. They head restrain. They apply blunt, pinching apply blunt, pinching pressure to the nasal pressure to the nasal septum. septum.

Nose tongs are not to Nose tongs are not to be used as the only be used as the only head restrainthead restraint

Nasal septum may be Nasal septum may be torn with violent torn with violent movement movement

Nose rings Nose rings Placed through the Placed through the

nasal septum and are nasal septum and are often used in bullsoften used in bulls

Should not be used to Should not be used to tie the head for head tie the head for head restraint, it is only for restraint, it is only for additional control of the additional control of the head but, as with nose head but, as with nose leads, the nasal leads, the nasal septum can be torn septum can be torn

Tail Restraint

The working The working chute is chute is designed to designed to hold one hold one animal at the animal at the

timetime

Nose lead

Hobbels/ Hoppels – No Kicking

Over commoncalcaneal tendonJust above thehocks

Flank rope – No Kicking

Front Leg Hoppel

ASSISTANT

PE or treatment

A rope with an eye in one end is used to form a loop around the pastern. The other end of the rope passes over the withers where is should be held by an assistant so that it can be released quickly if the cow starts to go down.

Beam and Hook - HLOther method

Casting – Rope Squeeze

Casting is a method Casting is a method of forcing an animal to of forcing an animal to the ground, usually the ground, usually with ropes with ropes

Prefer R lateral Prefer R lateral recumbency: recumbency: discourages bloatdiscourages bloat

Casting – Burley Method

Advantages•Less time•No respiratory/ CVS pressure•No pressure in genitalia area

Dr. D. R. Burley of Georgia

Calf restraint

Separate the calf from Separate the calf from mother first. mother first.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1stQtr

2ndQtr

3rdQtr

4thQtr

East

West

North

Calf restraintCalf restraint

Do not throw the calf Do not throw the calf to the groundto the ground

Do not place the Do not place the entire bodyweight on entire bodyweight on the calf and do not the calf and do not occlude the trachea occlude the trachea

Video Video

http://vetvideos.com/restraintcattle.htmhttp://vetvideos.com/restraintcattle.htmhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-

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ReferencesReferences

http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Dairy/http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Dairy/Restraint/RestraintsthatDivertAttention/Restraint/RestraintsthatDivertAttention/NoseLead/tabid/3904/Default.aspxNoseLead/tabid/3904/Default.aspx