Herding cattle is an art and a science that requires patience, knowledge of the escape zone, and some bovine psychology. Herd herd is as old as the world, as old as when the first cows were tamed over 50,000 years ago, and as old as the herd shifts that took place in the Old West.
They are gathered using shepherd dogs and / or men to move the herd from one area to another, or from a depleted pasture to a fresh one, or from pasture to stables where the animals are vaccinated, wormed, their horns cut, put the plate etc., before returning to the pasture.
steps
Method 1 of 3: Understanding the escape zone
Step 1. Know that cattle tend to move in a circular direction, and have areas called escape zones
It is a term used to indicate the maximum distance the animal allows you to approach. If you are outside this area, there will be no movement. If you enter the zone, you will see that they move away from you. Escape zones have what is called the Equilibrium Point, which is the point that influences the direction of movement of an animal depending on the pressure applied to it. A cattle's point of balance is usually on the shoulder, especially in tight spaces, and is determined by the animal's wide angle view. However, the point of balance in an open pen or pasture may not be on the shoulder, but perhaps the eye, the neck, or even the flank. There is no general distance for each animal's escape zones. Each depends on how docile the animal is, and how agitated it is or not. The escape zone is always larger around the head, and smaller near the hips.
- Pressing behind the balance point will always make the animal move forward. Pressing in front, on the contrary, will cause the animal to go backwards.
- Pressing directly on the right shoulder of the animal will cause it to go to the right, the same will happen for the left shoulder.
Step 2. To make an animal stop, stop walking when you are beyond the point of balance and the animal senses that you are out of the escape zone
To move only one animal, stop walking when the point of balance has passed. Remember to stay calm.
Method 2 of 3: Move the herd into the pasture
Step 1. Get out and go from the herd to pasture or paddocks
Stay calm and relaxed while doing this, and make sure you are mentally ready to treat and herd the herd as calmly as possible.
Step 2. Make the necessary preparations
Prepare in advance before taking the herd where it needs to go. Open the gates where you want the herd to pass and close the others, where they must not pass.
Step 3. Gather the beasts into an unordered herd
Start by moving in a zigzag way to make them cluster a minimum, starting at the bottom of the group. Don't circle around the beasts. Apply pressure from the outer edges of the group or collective escape zone, to push the beasts into a single, as yet undefined group. You can get the animals behind to move by giving them a predatory look, mimicking the gaze of a predator watching the herd. Don't stay too long in an animal's blind viewing angle though, or it will turn to look at you. Take the time you need, you may have to make big moves, depending on the size of the pasture and how the beasts are scattered. This initial step can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.
Do not chase the single leaders who are left behind, they will be brought back to the group in any case. And don't round up the beasts too quickly, as you want them to be only slightly nervous about your behavior and not suddenly run away in fear. Anxiety always comes before fear and flight
Step 1. Move them where you want them to go
To start the movement in the direction you have chosen, press the collective escape zone. Keep zigzagging, but stay closer to the herd, moving perpendicular to the direction the animals should be moving. Once the herd is moving in the direction you want it will be a little easier to keep it moving.
Animals will always try to move or move away from the desired direction, in order to locate where you, the controller, are. It is a natural behavior against predators, they always want to know where they are and what their intentions are. This could be because the controller (or predator) is in their blind spot. Therefore, to prevent this behavior, or to correct it and make them go in the same direction they should follow, do not remain, even for a short time, in the blind angle of view of any animal. Stop immediately or change the movement they are making to try to relieve the pressure and reward the animals for moving forward
Step 2. Go through the gate
When you reach the gate, stay close to the entrance (not in front or behind) and move back and forth to control the movement of the animals passing through the gate. Moving forward will stop the movement, backward will relieve pressure and allow animals to pass through the gate.
Method 3 of 3: Moving cattle from a work area
Step 1. Moving the beasts into enclosures requires the same methods as described above
You can use the same movements necessary to move them from one pasture to another to get them into an enclosure. Here are some specific situations:
- Through the gate: Check the number of animals that pass through the gate as described above, This is very useful for checking the number of animals that can pass in a working lane at one time.
- Through the work structures To get them to move from the pool to the aisle, walk in the opposite direction they need to go. This will put you over the point of balance when you walk away from them, Let them move into the lane until it is full. When you need them to keep moving forward, but not backward, walk away from them in the same direction they were moving and return to where you started, and repeat the movements if necessary.
- 'In the containment unit Moving an animal within a containment unit means that it stops moving when passing the balance point.
Step 2. Release the beast after all is done
When you do, stay behind the balance point, or walk in the opposite direction to where the beast is to go, thus placing you behind the balance point.
Advice
- Cattle are animals that aim for food, it will be easy to train them if you give them a food reward when they learn to do a certain thing, or let themselves be influenced by a certain sound or something. A call, or the sound of a horn (and consistency), will condition the cattle to come and find food, and will help get them moved to an area of your choice.
- The herd herd steps outlined above are mainly used in large systems such as ranches or farms where they are not used to seeing people leading them. For more docile cattle or perfectly accustomed to the presence of man, for these beasts that need to be taken to a new pasture or enclosure, herding them (unless using a shepherd dog) is not always the best solution, it will frighten and confuse them..
- Always remember that whenever you are dealing with your beasts, you are training them. Cattle will respond to whoever you entrust them to, good or bad, consistent or not.
- Always remain calm and quiet when dealing with cattle. Don't get angry, or feel frustrated, agitated or nervous, or the beasts will feel it and reflect it in their behavior, becoming nervous and agitated in turn. Don't yell or use too much force (such as beating them with a stick or whatever) to make them move. Not only is it cruelty to animals but they will not obey your wishes anyway; their fear and their desire to escape will increase.
- You can use these techniques to herd other animals as well.
- A dog, preferably a specific breed, can help you round up the herd. Make sure he is trained and that he does not attack or frighten animals and, especially with small ones, that his technique of herding them does not harm them. Ducks, for example, have to stare at them, not nibble them.
Warnings
- As stated above, don't yell or chase cattle, you will make them more stressed, and some animals may become aggressive if they feel trapped. A trapped animal is always dangerous, and it could seriously injure you, or even kill you.
- Agitated, sudden movements can cause a lot of damage to tools and tools, or even injure the animals themselves. The best way to make them move is to use calm and controlled gestures and movements, so they will go in the direction you want without any problems.
