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CATTLE HANDLING
Proper
cattle handling practices can be performed in a way that
will reduce the possibility of injury to man and animal.
Improper cattle handling costs the industry $22 million
annually in carcass trim at the packing house. Handling
stress lowers conception rates and reduces both immune and
rumen functions.
An understanding of the behavior of cattle will facilitate
handling, reduce stress and carcass defects caused from
bruising, and improve both handler safety and animal
welfare. Bruising is the biggest culprit. Cattle are
bruised by hard bumps against protruding objects and by
horns. Sticks and cans used as persuaders on the farm and
at the market can cause serious bruises. When the bruised
animal is slaughtered, the bruised area must be trimmed from
the carcass, causing an economic loss to the producer as
well as the packer.
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