Ruminant Restraint Ruminant Restraint Dr. Dipa Brahmbhatt VMD, MPH, Dr. Dipa Brahmbhatt VMD, MPH,

MSMS

"I think using animals for food is an ethical thing to do, but we've got to do it right. We've got to give those animals a decent life and we've got to give them a painless death. We owe the animal respect."

—Temple Grandin

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 – Cow/Calf ProducersNE,TX, KS

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 (pens and chutes), and are usually more difficult to segregate and restrain.

Caution: Beef bulls and cows Caution: Beef bulls and cows with calveswith calves

Dairy cattleDairy cattle

TemperamentTemperament nervous cownervous cow the docile cowthe docile cow the balker the balker

(obstinate)(obstinate) the chronic kickerthe chronic kicker

Dairy bulls should Dairy bulls should never by trustednever by trusted

Cows with calvesCows with calves

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 and mums)

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 (herding instinct)herd (herding instinct)

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

• Drive animals to pen/corral

/“tub”• Tub to

alleyway to working

chute

Moving and Herding CattleMoving and Herding Cattle CALMCALM Should not move faster Should not move faster

than a walkthan a walk SHOULDERSHOULDER

Aka: point of balanceAka: point of balance Behind > forwardBehind > forward Front > backwardsFront > backwards

Ask the farmer Cattle move toward lightCattle move toward light STRESS > DISEASE AND STRESS > DISEASE AND

LOW PERFORMANCELOW PERFORMANCETailing

BackstopsBackstops

Spring loaded panels pushed forward as animal moves through than popped back in place

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

timetime Silencer ch

ute

Chute RestraintChute Restraint

Chute RestraintChute Restraint

Self closing head catch or manually

““Posting”Posting”

Use both hands

• Fully restrain head before working with animal

• Head first squeeze later

Nose lead

ChallengesChallenges

Cow is downCow is down Occlude trachea or Occlude trachea or

blood flow to the blood flow to the craniumcranium

Handle calmlyHandle calmly Only 1 hand inside Only 1 hand inside

chutechute

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 to securing the head to an immovable object an immovable object with a rope attached with a rope attached to the halterto the halter

Watch trachea and Watch trachea and eyeeye

QUICK RELEASE

Restraints that divert attentionRestraints that divert attention

Tail restraintTail restraint Nose lead/ “nose Nose lead/ “nose

tongs”tongs” IV injectionIV injection Udder surgeryUdder surgery Examine hoofExamine hoof

Restraint of the headRestraint of the head

Nose leadsNose leads They apply blunt, They apply blunt,

pinching pressure to pinching pressure to the nasal septum. the nasal septum.

Supplement with halter Supplement with halter and/or with head and/or with head restraintrestraint

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

• Don’t use in calves• If tie knot: quick release and monitor

carefully

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 restraintrestraint

Only for additional Only for additional control of the head but: control of the head but: nasal septum can be nasal septum can be torn torn

Tail Restraint

TAIL JACK

• Cattle tail not as strong as horse• Don’t include vertebrae

Leg Restraint

Over common•Calcaneal tendon, just above the hocks•Hobbels/ Hoppels – No Kicking

• Flank rope – No Kicking

Leg Restraint

Leg Restraint: 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

If more than 30 min. NPO

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 - calvingCasting - calving

Casting – Burley Method

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

Dr. D. R. Burley of Georgia

Recumbent animalRecumbent animal

Stand next to spineStand next to spine Back/ Rib/ ThighBack/ Rib/ Thigh

Tap, slap or poke (blunt item) Tap, slap or poke (blunt item) KneeKnee Electric cattle prod only if necessary Electric cattle prod only if necessary

Calf restraint Separate the calf from mother firstSeparate the calf from mother first One arm around chest and other around base of tailOne arm around chest and other around base of tail Lateral recumbency: “Flanking”, slide down your legs Lateral recumbency: “Flanking”, slide down your legs

DO NOT throw calf on groundDO NOT throw calf on ground 1 knee on neck and other holding HL1 knee on neck and other holding HL

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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docid=8512037042653473796docid=8512037042653473796http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-

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33566549133898800213356654913389880021

ReferencesReferences

http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Dairy/Restraint/http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Dairy/Restraint/RestraintsthatDivertAttention/NoseLead/tabid/RestraintsthatDivertAttention/NoseLead/tabid/3904/Default.aspx3904/Default.aspx

K Holtgrew-Bohling , Large Animal Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 2nd Edition, Mosby, 2012, ISBN: 97803223077323

McCurnin, Dennis and Bassert, Joanna, Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians, 6th Edition, W. B. Saunders, 2005, ISBN 0721606121.

EditionsEditions

Dr. MendozaDr. Mendoza Dr. BrahmbhattDr. Brahmbhatt