Module 4. Animal handling 7
Animals have panoramic vision as shown in the diagram below.
Panoramic vision one eye
to ps
dni lB
noi si
v r al
uc oni
b wo
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N s
ey e
o wt
Panoramic vision one eye
Communicating with cattle
The most important aspects of communicating with cattle are related to light-zones, mob structure and understanding their
reaction to the handler’s position and movement.
Cattle want to: • move quietly without being abused
• follow other cattle • be part of a mob — and not to be isolated
• see what or who is pressuring them Cattle in a mob are always looking for a leader — which may be
another animal or a person. The way the handler positions his body in relation to the animal’s
eye will inluence how it moves. Vision is the most important animal sense when communicating
with livestock.
Four principles of cattle communication
The four top principles of livestock communication are:
1. Position – where are you in relation to the animal’s eye? 2. Pressure – apply pressure to get the animals to move
but then release it.
3. Movement – move your body position so that the animal sees you.
4. Communicating – let the animal communicate with other members of the mob while you communicate with
your fellow workers.
What do you want? Can I see you?
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8 Module 4. Animal handling
Four principles of cattle communication
1. Position
Cattle use sight as the main way they communicate.
Where are you in relation to the animal’s eye?
In front – this is very confrontational and can be very dangerous with some cattle.
Behind the animal – they like to see what is pressuring them. If they cannot see you, they will become nervous and turn around
to watch you.
The side – you can only inluence an animal and create eficient movement and direction when you are at the side of the animal.
Figure 4. Always work on the side of the animals
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Module 4. Animal handling 9
2. Pressure
Pressure is whatever is forcing the animal to move away. Too many people or too much activity can cause too much
pressure. Whatever pressure is applied, it must not be constant. Once it
has caused the animal to move, it should then be released. For example:
• If using a ‘cattle talker’ or goad with a lap, stop waving the lapper after the animal responds.
• If you created movement by positioning your body, release this pressure by moving back.
The most effective way to create pressure is to move towards the animal into its light-zone and then to move back away to
reward the correct response.
• There is no point applying consistent pressure when animals are already moving in the correct direction.
• Do not penetrate the animal’s light-zone and apply pressure when the animal has nowhere to go.
Figure 5. Pressure and release
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10 Module 4. Animal handling
3. Movement
Moving your body is an effective way to create pressure and inluence the direction of an animal.
Tools that can be used to create movement are:
• Human body – move your body by either walking towards
an animal in a zig-zag position or jumping up and down without noise in the same position.
• Goads –the ‘cattle talker’ is a stick with a lapper on the end.
Goads are an extension of your body—they are not a tool to hit animals.
Once the cattle are moving, discontinue the action. To move cattle in a race forward:
• move your body over the top of the race • put the ‘cattle talker’ in the race and move back in the
opposite direction of the cattle Some basic rules to move cattle:
• You cannot make an animal move if it has nowhere to go. • Never hit an animal that is already moving in the right
direction. • Never hit or pressure an animal that has nowhere to go.
• To make an animal go where it does not want to go, apply pressure to increase movement in the desired direction.
Goads – a ‘cattle talker’ is an extension of the arm—not a tool to hit the animal.
Figure 6. Never hit or pressure an animal if it has nowhere to go.
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• Livestock always move in a curve when going in and out of gateways and pens.
• Position yourself so the animal curves around you, rather than blocking them.
Figure 7. Using body position to move animals from a yard.
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12 Module 4. Animal handling
4. Communication with the animal and your fellow workers
