Go with the Flow – thought provoking cattle behaviour workshop

An interesting workshop on cattle handling is being jointly hosted by the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. The event on 14 February is being led by national expert Miriam Parker who specialises in animal behaviour and the design of effective handling facilities.

Understanding how animals see and interact with their environment is essential when planning the layout of facilities. A well thought out system can minimise stress and improve cattle flow and throughput.

Miriam Parker of Livestockwise said:

‘The basic approach to handling livestock on many units is to first design the actual system – with no thought for the way the stock may react to it. The starting point should be to understand how the animals view the world and then to adapt the system to reflect this.’

The workshop which is hosted at Corringdon Farm, South Brent, will look at a system through the eyes of a bovine and then identify best practice to improve both animal behaviour and the performance of the handler.  Ms Parker believes that safety and efficiency are key in this process and that the best handling facilities consider the natural behavioural tendencies of the animals being handled.  The event, which is also supported by Cornish Mutual, will look at operator safety as a central element of good design.

As well as tips on planning new facilities, the day will also look at adapting existing systems drawing on Miriam’s experience across the agricultural sector. A key learning point is that new or adapted systems don’t have to be expensive where they work with natural animal behavior, saving money and making the operation more efficient and safe.  A representative from the Greater Dartmoor LEAF will also be present to discuss options for grants, which may include mobile or static handling facilities.

The morning session commences at 10.00 and there is a free pasty lunch for participants - a perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day! If you would like to book a place please call the Hill Farm Project office on 01822 890913 or email hfp@dartmoor.gov.uk