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Beef Quality Assurance |
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Objective: To ensure all cattle are handled appropriately and treated humanely at all times to protect the animal as well as the handler. To eliminate the incidence of bruising, to avoid wild behavior in animals, and to minimize equipment breakage and employee injuries. 3.1 Cattle Working and Handling
2. Make all necessary repairs, including removing protruding bolts, nails, etc. 3. Handle cattle gently and humanely at all times to avoid injury (i.e. bruises) or extra stress to the animals and injury to handlers. 4. Prior to working cattle, do not get them excited. Move them slowly and quietly. 5. Gather cattle from pastures quietly and in small groups. 6. Before moving cattle through the handling facilities, ensure that all chains are tied up and trash is removed to prevent balking. 7. When pushing cattle, only fill the crowd pen and tub half full. 8. Keep cattle calm in the crowd pen, so that they will be calm coming into the chute. 9. Use only paddle sticks to move cattle through the handling facility. 10. Refrain from yelling, screaming, or making sudden movements near cattle. 11. The only time a hotshot should be used is right before the cattle enter the squeeze chute. It should only be used if cattle will not move and after all other techniques have been employed. It should never be used excessively. 12. When not in use, place the hotshot in a stationary place near the processing area. 13. Remember that the goal is to have cattle walk into the squeeze chute and walk out.
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