Low stress cattle handling
Le bâton n’est pas utilisé comme une arme, mais comme instrument pour assurer la sécurité du manipulateur. C’est une extension du bras. En utilisant la main directement, il y a un risque que l’animal donne un coup et que le manipulateur se blesse.
At branding time, we vaccinate and pour fly control on our cows through a double alley. To talk through the video, in the alley way I'm also sorting shippers at the same time to hold back. A sorting stick is being used as a deterrent. The stick is not used as a weapon, but as a safety measure. Our cattle otherwise stand and you have to revert to slapping them on the butt with your hand, which is great except for the one that decides to kick. For a larger individual it might not be a concern but the size difference between the cows and I here his significant. The term low-stress can have a variety of meanings...in this video it means the cattle aren't wound up, they aren't running and looking for holes to escape, and they aren't being excessively pushed to go down the alley way, meanwhile my safety is also taken into account and even though I'm on foot and in with the cattle, it's necessary to be aware of distances and not getting oneself into a bind.