Agricultural News
Tricks of the Trade - Low Stress Cattle Handling Advice from Leading Expert Dr. Tom Noffsinger
Wed, 28 Sep 2016 13:03:35 CDT
Nebraska cattle producer and veterinarian, Dr. Tom Noffsinger, is a leader when it comes in low stress cattle handling. He has a rap sheet to prove it, too, with degrees in Animal Science and Beef Production Management as well as a laundry list of awards and accolades highlighting his breadth of knowledge and achievement. It is his belief that learning, knowing and understanding the behavior of the animals on your farm or ranch is the key to keeping stress levels at a minimum when handling livestock.
Noffsinger says it is exciting to watch the change in attitudes when producers take responsibility for the actions of the cattle in their presence and make the conscious decision to make every interaction with the animals a positive one, for both the cattle and the human.
"Know that whatever the cattle do in our presence, is because of our position, our posture, our movement," Noffsinger said. "All of a sudden what they do is our responsibility."
Borrowing from the technique of his cattle handling hero, Bud Williams, Dr. Noffsinger says the tricks of the trade that work, are to get where the cattle can see you - clearly. Then give them clues where you want them to go. Get them use to it, and he says they'll do the same with you.
"Bud Williams' dream was to create voluntary activity in cattle," Noffsinger said. "Match that up with a world full of people that had the expertise, the training, the ability and the freedom to create voluntary motion - it is the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed."
Dr. Noffsinger was interviewed by Eric Atkinson of the Agriculture Today radio show. The comments from Noffsinger were contributed by that interview.
Listen to Dr. Tom Noffsinger on his experiences with low stress cattle handling on today's Beef Buzz with Farm Director Ron Hays.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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