Animal Handling

Loading cows onto a trailer safely

cheryl@peoplemanagementgroup.com — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Loading cows onto a trailer can be a challenging and stressful task, often requiring careful attention to the conditions, location and equipment being used. Every farm setup is different, and loading areas may vary.

Fit to go? Considerations for dairy cattle fitness to transport

hzundel@pabeef.org — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Transporting dairy animals requires a careful and considerate approach to guarantee their welfare while adhering to industry standards. Here are some factors to consider before shipping a cull cow.

Low-stress cattle handling on the dairy farm

cheryl@peoplemanagementgroup.com — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Everyone that works with or around large animals must understand their behaviours, signs of aggressive or defensive behaviour, their herd mentality and the way their vision works, including their blind spots.

Working with cattle: Tips for minimizing stress

cgwyn@jefo.ca — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

One of our areas of focus is to help producers reduce dairy cow stress. In a recent anecdotal survey, we asked them: Which dairy cow stressor do you think has the biggest impact on you, your cows and your bottom line?

Rotavirus in calves: What is causing the problem and how do we address it?

randal.shirbroun@vaxxinova.com — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Many cow-calf producers can relate to the frustration and challenges associated with scours, or diarrhea in baby calves. The typical and very reasonable questions to ask would include, “What is causing the problem?” and “How do we address it?”

Meeting dairy welfare standards: Good for your animals and good for the dairy aisle

djr6158@psu.edu — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:51:53 -0500

Dairy farming can be unpredictable, and even with the best management, accidents can happen. For example, a cow may slip exiting the parlor and go down. This could happen even on the best employee’s watch and while following all correct protocols.

Does your dairy have a culture of care?

jonathan.townsend@merck.com — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 17:28:50 -0500

When an operation has a culture of care, everyone from CEO to calf raiser understands how and why to provide exceptional animal care, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

Assurance Watch: Ensure animal safety and wellness through fitness to transport

bhamptonphifer@nmpf.org — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 13:59:30 -0500

Our industry responsibility is to ensure the welfare and safety of our animals at all life stages. Evaluating fitness to transport – the animal’s ability to withstand transportation without compromising its welfare – is an important piece of that.

6 steps to perform the Madigan Squeeze Technique

emqk@hotmail.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 16:25:32 -0400

After a difficult delivery, it is always exciting to have a live calf, but that feeling is quickly dampened when the calf does not suckle or thrive. In the veterinary world, this is called neonatal maladjustment syndrome, commonly referred to as a “dummy calf” or “weak calf.”

Study: Consumers will pay premiums for more calf-dam contact

albert.boaitey@uwrf.edu — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 13:00:01 -0400

Changes in consumer preferences, the availability of substitute products and the increased role of environmental and farm animal welfare concerns in milk choice pose significant challenges to the U.S. dairy industry.

Cow-calf separation: A look at the research and public opinion behind this practice

jenna@agproud.com — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 14:56:02 -0400

When it comes to cow-calf separation, there is no easy answer. Society has its concerns, but most of today’s dairy farms are designed with this practice in mind.

Emotional intelligence amplifies training on proper livestock handling

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 14:00:01 -0500

The production of high-quality proteins, either meat or milk, has never been under greater scrutiny. Social media has virtually unbounded people’s ability to share their voice with the world.

Pen settling: The simple secret to increasing intakes and reducing stress

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 15:09:12 -0400

Whether moving weaned calves into a new group or bringing springing heifers into the transition barn, many dairy producers have come to accept that a pen move will likely result in temporarily decreased feed intake, reduced gains or production, and the potential for a few sick or “off” animals.

Dairy cattle welfare from an ethicist’s perspective

rxanthony@uaa.alaska.edu — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:25:01 -0400

As an ethicist, I am interested in the respectful treatment of animals. Respectful treatment coincides with being mindful of the physical and mental states of animals throughout their entire lifespan in the system in which they are being reared.

Self-locking manger stall considerations

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:26:33 -0400

Modern dairy herd management practices have increased the frequency with which animals must be handled. Animals must be isolated and restrained for physical examination, vaccination, artificial insemination, pregnancy checks, treatment, dehorning, calving, etc. on a regular basis. Animal handling is critical because each cow in the herd may be handled 40 to 50 times per lactation.