Transcript Ruminant Restraint and Basic Physical Examination
"I think using animals for food is an ethical thing to do, but we've got to do it right. We've got to give those animals a decent life and we've got to give them a painless death. We owe the animal respect." —Temple Grandin
Ruminant Restraint
Dr. Dipa Brahmbhatt VMD, MPH, MS
Question
Livestock husbandry practices are dictated by the intended use of the animal. Even though all cattle have similar instincts, husbandry practices can have a significant effect on an animal’s behavior.
What are some of the basic behavioral differences of beef cattle and dairy cattle that affect the way that they are handled and restrained?
Beef Cattle – Cow/Calf Producers NE,TX, KS
Before the feedlot, spend most of their time in open range or field settings. Handled and restrained only occasionally: vaccination and deworming.
Suspicious
of humans and enclosures (pens and chutes), and are usually more difficult to segregate and restrain.
Caution: Beef bulls and cows with calves
Dairy cattle
Temperament nervous cow the docile cow the balker (obstinate) the chronic kicker Dairy bulls should never by trusted Cows with calves Facility dark barns are apt to be nervous.
Better in a well lighted, well ventilated one sedative or anesthetic
Ferocious Bull
Dairy Cattle
Dairy cattle are handled more frequently and spend much less time in open settings.
Dairy cows are milked twice daily while lactating, and the lactation cycle lasts on average 8-10 months of the year. Breeding is done by artificial insemination. Calves are often reared in enclosures with frequent human contact. In generaL, dairy cattle tend to be much easier to handle and restrain. (Caution on dairy bulls and mums)
Most veterinarian procedures required two stages of animal handling:
1.
The individual most be separate from the herd (herding instinct) 2.
The individual must then be restrained appropriately for the procedure
•
Drive animals to pen/corral /“tub”
•
Tub to alleyway to working chute
Moving and Herding Cattle
CALM Should not move faster than a walk SHOULDER Aka: point of balance Behind > forward Front > backwards Ask the farmer Cattle move toward light STRESS > DISEASE AND LOW PERFORMANCE
Tailing
Backstops
Spring loaded panels pushed forward as animal moves through than popped back in place
Chute Restraint
The working chute is designed to hold one animal at the time Silencer chute
Chute Restraint
Self closing head catch or manually
“Posting”
Use both hands
• •
Fully restrain head before working with animal Head first squeeze later
Nose lead
Challenges
Cow is down Occlude trachea or blood flow to the cranium Handle calmly Only 1 hand inside chute
Head restraint may be applied to cooperative animals, without use of a chute, but most individuals must be placed in a chute first.
"the part that draws goes under the jaws.“ Not for beef
Cattle halters are used to control the head by tying or securing the head to an immovable object with a rope attached to the halter Watch trachea and eye
QUICK RELEASE
Restraints that divert attention
Tail restraint Nose lead/ “nose tongs” IV injection Udder surgery Examine hoof Restraint of the head
Nose leads
They apply blunt, pinching pressure to the nasal septum. Supplement with halter and/or with head restraint Nasal septum may be torn with violent movement
• •
Don’t use in calves If tie knot: quick release and monitor carefully
Nose rings
Placed through the nasal septum and are often used in bulls Should not be used to tie the head for head restraint Only for additional control of the head but: nasal septum can be torn
Tail Restraint
• •
Cattle tail not as strong as horse Don’t include vertebrae TAIL JACK
Leg Restraint
Over common • Calcaneal tendon, just above the hocks • Hobbels/ Hoppels – No Kicking • Flank rope – No Kicking
Leg Restraint
Leg Restraint: Front Leg Hoppel
ASSISTANT PE or treatment A rope with an eye in one end is used to form a loop around the pastern. The other end of the rope passes over the withers where is should be held by an assistant so that it can be released quickly if the cow starts to go down.
Beam and Hook - HL
Other method
If more than 30 min. NPO
Casting – Rope Squeeze
Casting is a method of forcing an animal to the ground, usually with ropes Prefer R lateral recumbency: discourages bloat Casting - calving
Casting – Burley Method
Advantages • Less time • No respiratory/ CVS pressure • No pressure in genitalia area Dr. D. R. Burley of Georgia
Recumbent animal
Stand next to spine Back/ Rib/ Thigh Tap, slap or poke (blunt item) Knee Electric cattle prod only if necessary
Calf restraint
Separate the calf from mother first One arm around chest and other around base of tail Lateral recumbency : “Flanking”, slide down your legs DO NOT throw calf on ground 1 knee on neck and other holding HL
Calf restraint
Do not throw the calf to the ground Do not place the entire bodyweight on the calf and do not occlude the trachea
Video
http://vetvideos.com/restraintcattle.htm
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid= 1725026942547112254 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8512037 042653473796 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid= 6761217048822203559 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid= 3356654913389880021
References
http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Dairy/Restraint/Re straintsthatDivertAttention/NoseLead/tabid/3904/ Default.aspx
K Holtgrew-Bohling , Large Animal Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 2nd Edition, Mosby, 2012, ISBN: 97803223077323 McCurnin, Dennis and Bassert, Joanna,
Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians
, 6 th Edition, W. B. Saunders, 2005, ISBN 0721606121.
Dr. Mendoza Dr. Brahmbhatt