Good Stockmanship Pays: Avoiding Carcass Bruising

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 97, Issue 6, 15 December 1958, Page 553

Good Stockmanship Pays: Avoiding Carcass Bruising

By

E. NELSON,

Livestock Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Papakura

TO some, good stock sense comes * naturally. In others, because of lack of experience or an indifferent approach, it is completely lacking. This article describes some of the aspects which go to make up this important quality in stockmen which is so essential to our animal industry.

THERE is no university or college where stockmanship is rewarded with a diploma or certificate. It is unfortunate that this is so, but it would be impossible at such an institution to stage many of the difficult situations and problems with which a stockman has to deal in his year-round activities on the farm.

The many thousands of pounds of meat which are rejected for export because of bruising are evidence that at some stage between birth and final slaughter at the meat works cattle have been mishandled. It may be an over-enthusiastic shepherd with a new stock whip who crowds a mob of timid cattle through a gateway, causing bruising which results in several carcasses being rejected; it may be the new driver of a stock truck who, lacking in experience and understanding, fails to check his load and to steady down his speed at corners on the long haul from the back country station.

The Right Approach

Observation, anticipation, and patience are three qualities paramount in a good stockman. It is the possession of these qualities which enables one man to move livestock from one place to another with the minimum of fuss and bother. Another man, lacking in observation, may leave some behind, or lacking in anticipation lose some on the way. If he lacks patience, he may fail to arrive at his destination.

These three qualities are developed to a high degree in the successful deer stalker or pig hunter. A person who possesses these virtues is said to have “stock sense”. Such a person knows instinctively to run up a hill away from an angry bull, knowing that the bull can run down hill faster than man.

Beef Cattle

Beef production is taking on new importance. Good handling and beef quality are inseparable. As it is almost impossible to handle a mob of wild or semi-wild cattle without causing some bruising, buyers will often avoid lines of timid cattle, knowing that the percentage of rejection through bruising will be high.

The cattle fattener when making his purchases at store sales looks for quiet cattle. Cattle that are quiet will settle down quicker and being contented will fatten quicker. A cattle breeder who knows his business will get out among his stock as often as possible, moving them quietly round the paddocks until they are accustomed to seeing him. Such cattle will invariably command a better price at store sales. The difference between animals which are rarely handled and those which are accustomed to being driven is well demonstrated by experience in New Zealand and South Africa with Merino sheep. In New Zealand Merinos are somewhat difficult to muster because under our conditions they are brought in only at long intervals. In South Africa, where they

are yarded daily, Merinos are extremely easy to bring in and dogs are not needed. Dairy Cattle Patience and kindness are necessary in dealing with, dairy cattle right from calfhood. A farmer who has these two qualities is able to go up to his cattle in the paddock and handle them. This situation of mutual trust between cows and farmer is invariably reflected in better shed behaviour, quicker letdown of milk, and faster milking. Heavy back chains and strong leg ropes are not needed with a contented herd. All too often calves are brought in for feeding by dogs, fed by an indifferent milker, and chased back to their paddock. Such calves grow into dis-

trustful milkers. Women who tend calves at feeding time can give most men an object lesson in patience and kindness, and calves under their care and children’s calf club calves have much to recommend them as future milkers. Sheep Handling Some of the many losses which occur on the sheep farm are due to poor stockmanship. Though today there is not the same amount of large-scale smothering which occurred when big mobs of timid sheep were crowded into a gully or dip in a fenceline, overcrowding in woolsheds and yards still results in much injury and smothering. The alert and observant shepherd will be quick to notice sheep in difficulty. Sheep penned overnight in a woolshed should have more room than is usually allowed sheep . penned during the day. Because sheep are handled more often than other meat producing animals, they are subjected to more bruising. It would pay farmers to take particular care when handling fat lambs at drafting and loading before dispatch to the works. Lambs are particularly prone to bruising. Inspection of bruised lambs after slaughter indicates that bruising over the shoulders and along the back is most common. Lambs should never be lifted into or off trucks by the wool. This invariably results in a bad bruise. In like manner the backing dog, though useful and

sometimes indispensable, at times has no place in the lamb race. The use of these dogs in this way can cause considerable bruising as well as pelt damage. ' v Every year thousands of old fat ewes are trucked from farms to freezing works. They also are subject to bruising and should be afforded the same care as lambs. Stock Trucks , Most of the vehicles used for stock transport are well designed and carefully constructed with no projections of timber or metal to cause bruising and injury. Floor construction provides a good footing for : animals. Division gates are provided and their use protects animals from sudden jerking or swerving movement which otherwise would cause them to Crowd to one side. . . • -. However, failure to drive with care can cancel out the best design features.

The common causes of trucking injury are overloading, carrying weak cattle with more robust beasts, failure to partition off unruly horned animals, and failure to restrain bulls effectively. Apart from hygienic considerations, trucks should be kept clean if only to provide sure footing for their occupants.

Farmers should not ask carriers to overload, even if it means leaving stock behind. The potential loss from bruising and injury will be far greater than extra freight charges. The livestock carrying business is not an easy one. The carrier has many difficulties to contend with, not the least being inadequate loading races and approaches. Much bruising and injury would be avoided if farm loading facilities were improved.

Conclusion The important points of good stockmanship can be summarised as m Observation, anticipation, and L — l patience. rpi Frequent mustering of and move--I—l ment among beef cattle so that they become quiet. PH Patience and kindness with dairy — 1 cattle from calfhood so that they are well behaved in the shed. m Avoidance of bruising or other in- — jury in sheep by extra care in woolshed and yards and at lamb drafting. m Careful loading and driving of *— J stock trucks.

Concentrate Esters of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T

Correct Diluents and Proportions

THREE broad classes of esters of 2,4-D and 2, 4,5-T are sold in New Zealand today. If farmers are to use these materials correctly, they should be aware of the following basic information: Emulsifiable esters containing 3.6 lb. of acid equivalent per gallon This type of ester under various proprietary headings has been on the New Zealand market for a number of years. Emulsifiable esters of 2, 4, 5-T, for example, have been used widely for gorse and blackberry control. These materials are most suitably applied to the foliage of plants, water being used as a spreader or diluent. Their use in other carriers such as diesel fuel oil for basal spraying is not recommended, as the diesel fuel oil tends to separate out.

Concentrated emulsifiable esters containing 7.2 lb. of acid equivalent, per gallon Recently a proprietary line of 2,4-D and 2,4, 5-T emulsifiable esters containing double the amount of acid equivalent (or active principle) has been marketed in New Zealand. Farmers using these materials should be aware of this and use them at the correct rates of application. The Department of Agriculture’s Bulletin No. 329, “Chemical Methods of Weed Control”, gives all rates in pounds of acid equivalent per acre. These rates should be followed closely. In materials with 3.6 lb. each quart contains 0.9 lb. of parent acid; in materials with 7.2 lb. each quart contains 1.8 lb. of parent acid. Emulsifiable products of 3.6 lb. of acid equivalent per gallon should be applied only in water.

Oil-soluble ester concentrates containing 7.2 lb. of acid equivalent per gallon These materials cannot be spread with water. They are specifically designed to be applied in oil carriers such as diesel fuel oil. They normally should not be applied to the foliage of plants, but used in the basal application method. In this method the materials are applied to the bases of plants such as hawthorn, barberry, and sweet brier. Diesel fuel oil acts as a carrier and penetrating agent. Preparations of 2,4-D have been available for some years. Recently a proprietary line of 2,4, 5-T has become available. Normally these products for basal application are applied in fixed solutions. A useful dilution is 1 lb. of acid equivalent in 10 to 20 gallons of diesel fuel oil.

—L. J. MATTHEWS,

Weeds Research Officer, Department of Agriculture, Wellington