Knowing how to safely and effectively lead, restrain, and otherwise handle livestock in the field and in farm facilities is critical to being a successful livestock farmer. Renowned animal behaviorist and best-selling author Temple Grandin’s guide to livestock handling for small farmers includes her own unique understanding of what motivates the behaviours of cows, pigs, goats, and sheep. She explains herd dynamics, pecking order, and what species are compatible with others in the field.
She also explains the distinctive fears, instincts, and memories of each species and then applies this understanding to safe, humane handling practices. Full-colour photographs teach how to read an animal’s behavioural signals. Illustrations are included for facility layouts that are most appropriate for small farms, including corrals, chutes, crowd pens, loading ramps, head gates, and more. AUTHOR: Temple Grandin is the author of the New York Times bestsellers ‘Animals in Translation’ and ‘Animals Make Us Human’, as well as ‘Thinking in Pictures, Humane Livestock Handling, Improving Animal Welfare’, and ‘The Autistic Brain’. Grandin’s humane livestock facility designs have been adopted all over the world, and she is a consultant on animal welfare to several segments of the fast food industry. Her work has been featured on NPR, 60 Minutes, and The Today Show and in the New York Times and Time and Discover magazines. The story of her life was made into an Emmy Award-winning HBO movie titled Temple Grandin. Grandin is Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. SELLING POINTS: . Best-selling author and animal behaviorist Temple Grandin shares her unique insights into livestock animals. By explaining how herd animals think, what their fears, instincts, and memories are, and which animals make good companions in the field, Dr. Grandin instructs small farmers in the most humane, safe, and efficient ways to handle these animals. . Essential information specially written for small-scale farms. Assuming the reader has no prior knowledge of animal handling, this book explains how to set up the simplest, most efficient facilities for managing a small herd of 3 to 25 cattle or pigs, or 5 to 100 sheep or goats, and how to become skilled at observing animal movement and behavior as part of close daily interaction. Knowing how to move, restrain, and interact safely and calmly with animals is essential knowledge for every owner of farm animals. . Covers best practices for profitability. Humane handling practices result in a safer, calmer environment for both the animals and the farmers and a more economical farm model, as the final result is healthier animals who produce higher-quality meat and dairy products. Full colour photos