- - AGRICULTURE CORE CURRICULUM - - (CLF3000) Advanced Core Cluster: ANIMAL SCIENCE (CLF3400) Unit Title: LARGE ANIMAL PRODUCTION ____________________________________________________________________________ (CLF3403) Topic: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Time Year(s) 2 hours 3 / 4 ____________________________________________________________________________ Topic Objectives: Upon completion of this lesson, the student will be able to: Learning Outcome #: (G-3) - Identify animal behavioral patterns that will make animals easier and safer to handle. Special Materials and Equipment: Supplemental Handout #1 and VEP videos, "Animal Behavior" and "Cattle Handling and Transportation." References: Craig, James V. DOMESTIC ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. Ensminger, M.E. THE STOCKMAN'S HANDBOOK. Grandin, Temple. FARM ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. Evaluation: Quiz by instructor and a grade for a diagram or drawing of a livestock working or loading area. TOPIC PRESENTATION: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR A. Quiet and efficient livestock handling will REDUCE stress and injuries to both handlers and livestock, if handlers have an increased under- standing of animal behavior. Rough handling and rough transportation can cause: 1. increased bruising in meat animals, 2. lower conception rates, 3. suppressed immune functions, 4. decreased weight gain in both meat and breeding animals, and 5. isolation behavior which may contributed to other problems as listed above. B. Behavioral Patterns That Affect Animal Handling 1. GREGARIOUS BEHAVIOR refers to the flocking or herding instinct of certain species. This behavior differs among species: a. It is seen most often in sheep and is more evident in the white-face breeds than in the black-face breeds. The flocking instinct in sheep makes it easier to herd them on the open range. b. Horses show a definite preference to be in proximity of other horses, which can be beneficial on trail rides and in group activities, but a disadvantage when riding or trying to work a horse alone. c. Cattle and sheep often show visual signs of stress when isolated. Sometimes these livestock species will attempt to jump fences or go through them if they have sensory contact but no physical contact with herdmates. 2. LEADER-FOLLOWER BEHAVIOR is exhibited in all large domestic farm species. a. All species of livestock exhibit a strong tendency to follow. Both cattle and sheep are highly motivated to maintain visual contact with each other. b. In each case, the young follow their mother, or they follow some "leader" in the herd or flock. For example, 1) the older ewes are usually the leaders, having the largest number of descendants in the flock, and these descendants will follow her current crop of lambs. 2) The leader may not be the most dominant or aggressive animal in the flock or herd. 3) The animal handler can often move animals more easily by serving as a "following-stimulus" leader. Often times, dogs are used to keep the animals together and moving along behind the handler, who is either on foot or on horseback. 3. Movement and Restraint in Strange Surroundings a. Knowledge of animal behavior can be extremely helpful in situations where animals are unfamiliar with the area. This will transform difficult, potentially dangerous situations into quiet, orderly, and efficient ones. 1) Sensory perceptions and handling of livestock, if under- stood, will alleviate problems. Large domestic animals: a) are easily disturbed by loud or UNUSUAL noises; clanking metal, and the sounds made by motors and pumps. These noises are likely to cause animals to balk unless the noise is muffled or kept at a distance. b) have an extremely sensitive sense of smell. c) have been described as visual animals - - what they see can frighten them. They will lower their heads to increase their depth perception at the ground level. d) will balk at flapping objects, water, bright spots of sunlight, drain grates, shadows, zebra patterns (including real and painted cattle guards), and will not walk under overhead catwalks. 2) Electric prods should be used sparingly on cattle and never on pigs or sheep. Limit use to truck loading and single file chutes leading to the squeeze chute. C. VISUAL FIELD of various livestock species: 1. Knowing the range of vision of the animal can improve the handling of that animal. 2. The visual field of selected species: ___________________________________________________________ SPECIES RANGE OF VISION ___________________________________________________________ cattle/swine: 300 degrees sheep: 270 degrees (fleece on the face causes a decreased visual field). horses: 270 degrees Instructions: Draw a diagram of the range of vision of each of the above on the chalk board to emphasize the areas with each species' vision. ___________________________________________________________ D. Facilities and Behavior 1. For all domestic livestock species, the sides of all ramps, chutes, and working pens should be solid. Animals should see only ONE pathway of escape, in the direction that you want them to go. 2. Solid-sided chutes which eliminate strong contrasts of light and shadow in the path and eliminate outside distractions are best. They work well for handling animals which are unaccustomed to the facilities and being in close contact with handlers. 3. Round pens have been used for handling horses, sheep, and wild animals. Animals that are active and excitable are less likely to injure themselves and others when kept in a circular enclosure, and none will become trapped in a corner. a. FLIGHT-ZONE: The space surrounding the animal that, if entered by another animal or human, will elicit avoidance or escape behavior. 4. Diagonal sorting pens and curved chutes with gates making wide angles are recommended. Avoid right angle corners and blind alleys which slows movement and results in pile-up of animals, when those coming from behind force others into the area. 5. Loading Ramps: a. Maximum Recommended Angle for Loading Ramps: ________________________________________ SPECIES ANGLE OF RAMP ________________________________________ cattle 20 degrees swine 15 degrees sheep may be slightly steeper than cattle ________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ACTIVITY: Using supplementary handout #1 and class notes, have students design and draw a loading chute, a loading ramp, or a working containment area for livestock. Turn in for a grade. See text FARM ANIMAL BEHAVIOR for diagrams. __________________________________________________________ E. Tonic Immobility or "Animal Hypnosis" 1. Being held tightly in unusual positions often results in a trance-like or "hypnotic" state for many animals. For example: a. when sheep are set upon their rumps and held for shearing, and b. when poultry are held upside down by their legs. 2. Typically, when animals are caught and forcefully restrained, three distinct phases of behavior are seen: a. initially, they struggle to escape; b. if that is not effective, they become immobile; and c. finally they recover abruptly and again attempt to escape. 3. This immobility may serve as a defensive response against predation after being caught. SUPPLEMENTAL HANDOUT #1 SOME GENERAL GUIDELINES IN DESIGNING FACILITIES TO HANDLE LARGE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 1. TRAFFIC SHOULD BE IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY. 2. MOVEMENT IS FACILITATED BY CURVED PATHWAYS; CORNERS SHOULD BE GRADUAL. 3. MOVEMENT IS FACILITATED BY SOLID SIDE-WALLS. 4. ELIMINATE PROJECTIONS ON SIDE-WALLS TO AVOID INJURY TO ANIMALS. 5. INCLINES SHOULD BE GRADUAL AND SHOULD PROVIDE GOOD FOOTING. 6. ENTRY POINTS SHOULD GRADUALLY "FUNNEL IN" ANIMALS; EXIT POINTS SHOULD ABRUPTLY "FUNNEL OUT" ANIMALS. 7. FACILITIES SHOULD BE UNIFORMLY LIGHTED; AVOID SHADOWS, PARTICULARLY "ZEBRA STRIPES." 5/10/90sg #%&C