Moving Animals

Humane animal handling depends greatly on the skill of the stockman. Good animal handlers take into consideration the natural behaviour of the animals, react to animals in a calm manner and move them by persuading them forward. Animals can be unpredictable and difficult to move in an unfamiliar environment; good handlers understand this and adjust their approach accordingly.

Moving animals to and from the pens

Make sure all gates are secured in position and that raceways are clear of obstacles and distractions. Always move animals in manageable group sizes. Moving animals in smaller groups makes them easier to control and keep moving. If moving large numbers of animals together, any baulking becomes a major problem as it is difficult to reach the animals at the front of the group in order to encourage movement to restart. This can lead to frustration and the temptation to coerce the animals at the back. This is inappropriate and the use of electric goads in these circumstances would be illegal in some countries.

Sale ring

Animals in a sale ring are more difficult to handle than normal. They are much more likely to be unpredictable, and normally docile animals can become dangerous. It is important that only essential people are in sale rings: no more than the stockman and/or the owner. Once in the sale ring, animals should be encouraged to move, but good handlers will be able to do this with very little movement from themselves. In the case of sheep and calves, where buyers tend to congregate in the ring to grade animals, this should be controlled by the operators and restricted to as few people as possible. Many markets now discourage this practice. Not only do people provide distractions and obstacles to the animals, they can also make the animals more nervous and more likely to attempt escape and injure themselves. Under all circumstances, the entrance and exit of the ring should be kept clear of people so that animals can move freely in and out of the ring.

Sale ring

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