Identification Raceways

Handling systems often need to include facilities to enable the identification of individual animals. Taking into account that animals are in unfamiliar surroundings and they may not have much experience of handling, this can be a stressful procedure. Good systems allow near continuous movement of animals and minimise long periods stood in raceways. Gates dividing raceways between animals can prevent them pacing up and down the raceway or charging into the front and rear gates and bruising themselves. Gates also reduce aggression between unfamiliar groups of animals.

Identification raceways should be designed to provide easy access to the animals’ heads, with as little need for physical restraint as possible. Identification raceways often have neck yokes for more difficult animals, however, these should not be used on every animal. Using a neck yoke when not required is an unnecessary source of stress for the animal.

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