| Handling | Camelids | Cattle | Goats | Horses | Pigs | Poultry | Rabbits | Sheep |

Animal Behaviors:

• Most animals respond to calm, gentle, and consistent handling.
• Livestock become skittish when their ordinary routines or familiar surrounding change.
• Domestic livestock are herd animals; they become agitated when isolated and will try to return to the herd.
• Animals have a definite social order.
• Livestock detect people by their movement.
• Frightened, nervous animals can kick, bite and knock a person over!

When Working with Animals:

• Move calmly, deliberately, and patiently.
• Avoid loud noises and make animals aware of your approach.
• Create a daily routine and introduce changes slowly.
• Always leave an escape route for yourself when working in close quarters with animals.
• Remember the flight zone, point of balance and blind spots of animals.

Keep in mind the following points:

• Cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats do not see color as humans do.
• Cattle, horses, and mules have a panoramic field of vision.
• Animals have strong maternal instinct.
• Animals develop a strong bond to their pens and pastures.
• Animals respond to the way they are treated by human in past experiences.
• Animals are sensitive to noise and are frightened easily.

References:

Dr. Temple Grandin, Livestock Behavior web site; http://www.grandin.com/

Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture “Basic Horse Safety Manual” .pdf